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Basophils are not the key antigen‐presenting cells in allergic patients
Author(s) -
EcklDorna J.,
Ellinger A.,
Blatt K.,
Ghanim V.,
Steiner I.,
Pavelka M.,
Valent P.,
Valenta R.,
Niederberger V.
Publication year - 2012
Publication title -
allergy
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 3.363
H-Index - 173
eISSN - 1398-9995
pISSN - 0105-4538
DOI - 10.1111/j.1398-9995.2012.02792.x
Subject(s) - immunology , basophil , allergen , antigen presenting cell , antigen , allergy , antigen presentation , immune system , medicine , t cell , immunoglobulin e , antibody
Background Recent data obtained in mouse models have initiated a controversy whether basophils are the key antigen‐presenting cells ( APC s) in allergy. Here, we investigate whether basophils are of importance for the presentation of allergen and the induction of T cell proliferation in allergic patients. Methods T cells, basophils, and APC s depleted of basophils were purified from allergic patients. Co‐culture systems based on purified major allergens were established to study allergen‐specific T cell responses using proliferation assays. Results Only co‐cultures of T cells with APC s depleted of basophils but not with basophils proliferated in response to allergen. Even addition of IL ‐3 to T cell–basophil co‐cultures failed to induce allergen‐specific T cell proliferation. Conclusions Our data demonstrate by classical in vitro proliferation assays that basophils are not key antigen‐presenting cells that promote T cell proliferation in secondary immune responses to allergen in allergic patients.