Immunopathology of parasitic diseases: Involvement of basophils and mast cells

Abstract

This review has considered three related cells that are involved in the immunopathologic responses to parasites that invade host tissues of the skin and gastrointestinal tract: (1) connective tissue mast cells that are already present in tissues when infection occurs; (2) intestinal mucosal mast cells that may arise from recirculating gut-homing stem cells and are induced via T-cell dependent mechanisms to differentiate locally into distinctive mast cells; and (3) bone marrow derived basophils that are recruited by T-cells and/or antibody mediated mechanisms to leave the blood and enter parasite infested skin or intestinal tissue. The precise role of these cells in immune resistance mechanisms to parasites is not yet understood. It is most likely that a variety of mediators released by these cells contribute to immune resistance and also to modulation of the local inflammatory response. Mediators released by these cells may contribute to resistance in at least three ways:first, by leading to the local accumulation of antibody, complement, and effector leukocytes;second, by activating these effector cells for augmented ability to damage the parasites; and third, by effects on local tissue elements, such as goblet cells and smooth muscle; initially to produce an environment inhospitable for attachment and feeding of the parasites, and finally to aid in the expulsion of the parasites. © 1980 Springer-Verlag.