Interleukin 2 regulates the activation of human basophils. (March 2020)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Zhao, Shuli; Tang, Yangyang; Hong, Li; Xu, Meizhen; Pan, Shuai; Zhen, Kuiyang; Tang, Renxian; Zhai, Xiaoxiang; Shi, Zhixu; Wang, Hui
• Is Part Of: Cytokine. Volume 127(2020)
• Publication Date: 2020-03
• Subjects: Basophils -- Interleukin 2 -- Interleukin 5 -- Skin diseases; GEM Gene expression microarray; Cytokines -- Periodicals; 571.844
• DOI: 10.1016/j.cyto.2019.154934
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 1043-4666

Abstract

Highlights: IL-2 activates human basophils to express multiple inflammatory cytokines. IL-2 induces IL-5 in human basophils rather than IL-3 or anti-IgE. IL-5 and GM-CSF are expressed in infiltrating basophils from bullous pemphigoid and eczema. Abstract: Basophils are important effector cells in allergic disorders and anti-parasitic immune response. A number of activators including interleukin 3 (IL-3) and IgE have been identified in the regulation of human basophils expressing mediators such as histamine and leukotriene C4 (LTC4) and cytokines, including IL-4 and IL-13. Human basophils express high levels of IL-2 receptors. However, the function of the IL-2 pathway in basophils remains unknown. Here, we identified that IL-2 induced the activation of human basophils in vitro to express a variety of inflammatory cytokines and chemokines including IL-5, IL-13, GM-CSF and CCL-17. This effect by IL-2 is confirmed by an upstream regulator analysis using Ingenuity pathway analysis. Of note, one of the top regulated cytokines, IL-5, was for the first time identified to be induced by IL-2 in human basophils rather than IL-3 or anti-IgE. Immunofluorescence analysis of skin specimens from bullous pemphigoid and eczema revealed that infiltrating basophils in skin lesions widely expressed IL-5 and GM-CSF. Together, our findings reveal IL-2 as a novel regulator of human basophils. This adds a new layer to support the importance of basophils in allergic disorders.