Role of basophils in the initiation of Th2 responses

Long appreciated for their role as Type-2 effector cells, basophils have recently come into the spotlight for their role in the initiation of Type-2 immunity. Via an assortment of different activation pathways, basophils produce cytokines such as IL-4 that promote Th2 differentiation. Furthermore, recent studies using different experimental systems have shown that basophils can act as antigen presenting cells both in vitro and in vivo. In addition, basophils shape the Type-2 immune response by guiding antibody production and the memory response.