Biology of basophils and their role in allergic inflammation.

Chronic allergic inflammatory reactions involve the infiltration and participation of many different cell types. Although it has been evident for many years that tissue specific mast cells have a primary role in the early stages of these reactions, recent studies indicated that, in addition to mast cells response, a later reaction which selectively recruits the circulating lymphocytes, eosinophils and basophils to the site of inflammation, is the hallmark for the progression of allergic diseases.