Fig. 1. Surface and secreted molecules of basophils. Basophils express cell surface receptors for immunoglobulin, chemokines, and cytokines, which are important for their development, maturation, homeostasis, and effector functions. They also secrete a variety of molecules, including cytotoxic granule proteins, cytokines, chemokines, and immunoregulatory mediators in response to different stimulations, and play roles in allergic diseases, parasitic infections, and cancers. TSLP: thymic stromal lymphopoietin; TSLPR: TSLP receptor; IL: interleukin; GM-CSF: granulocyte-macrophage colony-stimulating factor; VEGF-A: vascular endothelial growth factor-A; CCL: chemokine (C-C motif) ligand; MIP-1α: macrophage inflammatory protein-1α; RANTES: regulated upon activation normal T cell expressed and secreted factor; CXCL8: chemokine (C-X-C motif) ligand 8.