Basophils in tuberculin and "Jones-Mote" delayed reactions of humans.

Abstract

A B S T R A C T Jones-Mote reactions are delayed, erythematous, and mildly indurated cutaneous reactions originally described in humans sensitized by skin injection of heterologous proteins. Similar reactions in guinea pigs contain many basophils and are called cutaneous basophil hypersensitivity. In contrast, guinea pigs immunized with mycobacterial adjuvants have classical tuberculin-type delayed hypersensitivity reactions, which contain few basophils. This has led to a new classification of delayed responses, based largely on the presence or absence of basophils. We induced sensitization for JonesMote reactions in 20 normal humans by intradermal injections of keyhole limpet hemocyanin. Skin tests with KLH 1 wk later showed erythematous and indurated delayed reactions in all subjects. Rebuck skin windows showed specific accumulations of basophils with a delayed time-course in 18 of 20 subjects. In 12 normals sensitized with oxazolone-keyhole limpet hemocyanin conjugates, skin reactions and in vitro lymphocyte stimulation showed carrier and not hapten specificity, suggesting that cutaneous responses were probably mediated by T cells.A comparative stuidy of strongly positive PPD skin tests in patients with tuiberctulosis showed significant basophil accuimulations in five of nine subjects. Thus, basophils occuirred in human tuibercullin and Jones-Mote reactions and were not a distinguishing feature of Jones-Mote reactions. We suggest that the occurrence of basophils at delayed reactions is under complex regulation and that basophil accumulations are an aspect of delayed hypersensitivity, rather than an indication of a distinctive and separate response. Dr. Askenase is the recipient of Allergic DiseasesAcademic Award AI-70829, and Dr. Atwood was the recipient of a student fellowship from the Syntex Corporation.

Comparison of an In-house and a Commercial RD1-based ELISPOT-IFN- Assay for the Diagnosis of Mycobacterium tuberculosis Infection

“…15,16 ELISPOT assays may also allow the more sensitive testing of healthcare workers by discriminating truly infected people from those who have received BCG-vaccinations or who show nonspecific TST reactions (e.g., hypersensitivity to heterologous proteins). 17 Seventy-six percent of the subjects enrolled in this study were household contacts of contagious TB infected patients and nearly half of them came from developing countries (85% had a detectable BCG scar or documentation confirming previous vaccination, although it must be noted that not all vaccinated individuals develop a detectable scar). 18 Thirty-seven of the 38 subjects with a detectable scar had a positive (≥5 mm) TST reaction, but 10 showed a negative ELISPOT-MTP response.…”

Dendritic Cells from Mycobacteria-Infected Mice Inhibits Established Allergic Airway Inflammatory Responses to Ragweed via IL-10– and IL-12–Secreting Mechanisms

“…More recently, it was reported that basophils could function as APCs to promote Th2 responses (44)(45)(46). Because patients with tuberculosis show significant basophil accumulations (47), it is likely that BCG infection can also promote basophil response; this might be a reason for enhanced IgE response in the infected mice after allergen exposure. Therefore, the data tell us at least two things: the use of potent APCs, such as DCs, may be able to alter established IgE responses, and the influence of infection on allergy is through multiple cell types.…”

In vitro Generation of Mast Cell-Like Cells from Human Peripheral Mononuclear Phagocytes

“…Mast cells and basophils are specialized leukocytes that play a prominent role in antibody-dependent [I] and cell-mediated [2,3] processes. They are character ized by a high-affinity IgE membrane receptor [4] and by specific, electron-dense, intracytoplasmic granules that contain large quantities of histamine [5], glycosaminoglycans and a chymotrypsin-like enzyme [re viewed in I ].…”