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Updated: Feb 14, 2026

Basophil Activation Test for Allergy Diagnosis
Published on: May 31, 2021
Mast cells, basophils and eosinophils: From allergy to cancer
A Rigoni1, M P Colombo1, C Pucillo2
1Molecular Immunology Unit, Department of Research, Fondazione IRCCS Istituto Nazionale dei Tumori, 20133 Milano, Italy.
Abstract:
Basophils, eosinophils and mast cells were first recognized by Paul Ehrlich in the late 19th century. These cells have common, but non-redundant roles, in the pathogenesis of allergic diseases and in the protection against parasites. Nevertheless, in virtue of their shared-adeptness to produce a huge variety of immunological mediators and express membrane-bound receptors, they are able to interact with immune and non-immune components of the tissue microenvironment, contributing to the regulation of tissue homeostasis and immune response while participating to further deregulation of tissues transforming into neoplasia.
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