MRCP UK EXAMINATIONS

Detailed explanation-1: -Basophils are also granulocytes, or white blood cells that have granules, or small particles, attached to them. These small particles are filled with enzymes, like histamine, that are released during allergic reactions. Basophils are the only white blood cells circulating around your body that contain histamine.

Detailed explanation-2: -The granules of basophils hold both histamine and heparin. When a foreign organism enters your body, your basophils activate and release these enzymes to assist your immune system’s response to destroy the organism.

Detailed explanation-3: -IgE, mast cells, basophils, and eosinophils are essential components of allergic inflammation. Antigen-specific IgE production, with subsequent fixation of IgE to FcRI receptors on mast cells and basophils, is central to the initiation and propagation of immediate hypersensitivity reactions.

Detailed explanation-4: -In general, a patient that presents with a type I hypersensitivity usually develops a reaction within one hour after exposure to an antigen. The signs and symptoms exhibited in this type of reaction involve vasoactive mediators that are released by IgE bound mast cells and basophils.

Detailed explanation-5: -Specifically, basophils have been shown to produce platelet-activating factor (PAF) and significantly contribute to anaphylaxis in response to penicillin-IgG antibody complexes75. In addition to IgE-and IgG-mediated activation, basophils have also been shown to be activated in an IgD-dependent manner.