Premium
Basophils express a type 2 cytokine profile on exposure to proteases from helminths and house dust mites
Author(s) -
Phillips Clair,
Coward William R.,
Pritchard David I.,
Hewitt Colin R. A.
Publication year - 2003
Publication title -
journal of leukocyte biology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.819
H-Index - 191
eISSN - 1938-3673
pISSN - 0741-5400
DOI - 10.1189/jlb.0702356
Subject(s) - biology , proteases , cytokine , eosinophil , necator americanus , immunology , house dust mite , microbiology and biotechnology , protease , basophil , antigen , interleukin 5 , immunoglobulin e , interleukin , allergy , allergen , enzyme , antibody , helminths , biochemistry , ascaris lumbricoides , asthma
The proteolytic activities frequently associated with sources of allergens and parasite secretions have been suggested as important immunomodulators. We have investigated whether the protease activity of the house dust mite allergen Der p1 and the secreted proteases of the hookworm Necator americanus are able to directly induce type 2 cytokine production by basophils. Der p1 and the secretions of N. americanus induced interleukin (IL)‐4, IL‐5, and IL‐13 but not interferon‐γ mRNA in KU812 basophils. Enzyme‐linked immunosorbent assay confirmed that IL‐4 and IL‐13 were secreted. A nonproteolytic antigen failed to induce cytokine expression, and preincubation of Der p1 or N. americanus secretions with protease inhibitors inhibited cytokine expression. Data were confirmed using basophils purified from human peripheral blood. We speculate that tis innate mechanism may contribute to the development of a cytokine milieu that could promote immunoglobulin E synthesis, eosinophil recruitment, and the development of type 2 T cells.