Figure 3.

Hypothetical role of basophil migration in asthma exacerbation. Following exposure to allergen or respiratory viral infection, basophil chemotactic factors are released in lungs leading to recruitment of basophils from the circulation to the airways where they may contribute to the early asthmatic response. In some patients, a Th2‐type immune response orchestrated by basophils, mast cells and infiltration of eosinophils can cause late asthmatic response, resulting in prolonged swelling of the airway mucosa and aggravating the airway obstruction. CCL2, chemokine (C‐C motif) ligand 2; CCR2, C‐C chemokine receptor type 2; IgE, Immunoglobulin E; IgE receptor, high‐affinity IgE receptor (FcεRI); IL‐4, interleukin 4