Table 2.
Markers commonly present on basophil surface utilize and their function
| Marker | Function/Role | Leukocyte expression | Ref. | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Identification markers | CD11b, CD18 | Glycoproteins (α subunit CD11b, ß subunit CD18) for adherence to endothelial cells | Broadly on leukocytes | [20, 101, 102] |
| CD13 | Cleaves nucleotides, monopeptides; pattern of expression similar to that of CD203c | Myeloid cells | [103] | |
| CD45 | Used to phenotype basophilic cells; gating around IgEhigh/CD45low for isolating basophils | Monocytes, platelets (CD45hiigh) | [4, 5, 8] | |
| CD123 (IL-3Rα) | Selection marker used to gate basophils in conjunction with HLA-DRnegative | Plasmacytoid dendritic cells | [38, 53, 101, 103] | |
| CD172a (SIRP-α) |
Low expression on basophils; regulates cytokine-dependent signaling via RTKsa | Neutrophils, monocytes | [102] | |
| CD184 (CXCR4) |
Basophil trans-endothelial migration with CCR3; low expression on basophils | Monocytes, lymphoid cells | [20, 102] | |
| CD193 (CCR3) |
Ligands include eotaxin, monocyte chemotactic protein, etc. High expression independent of activation or atopy. Primes basophil for IgE-mediated histamine release | Th2-type lymphocytes and mast cells (MCs) | [104, 105] | |
| CD203c (ENPP3b) |
High expression unique to basophils; function in basophils still under investigation | MCs, progenitors | [5, 52, 102] | |
| CRTH2c | Highly expressed, important for selective migration, potential role in allergic inflammation. Basophil isolation from Th2 cells achieved with addition of anti-CD3 | Eosinophils, Th2 cells | [5, 12, 104] | |
| Activation markers | CD63 (LAMP3d) |
Located in intracytoplasmic granules; weak expression on resting cells, upregulation mirrors histamine release | Tissue MCs, macrophages, platelets | [5, 7, 52] |
| CD69 | Expressed progressively when stimulated with IL-3 and weakly expressed upon IgE-mediated stimulation | Granulocytes, lymphocytes, monocytes | [2, 38, 53] | |
| CD107a (LAMP1d) |
Pattern of expression similar to that of CD63 (i.e. low levels on resting basophils) | Activated platelets, NK & T cells, MCs | [103] | |
| CD164 | Expression pattern similar to CD63; role in adhesion; utility as marker requires research | MCs, WBC progenitors | [101, 103] |
aTyrosine kinase receptors; bEctonucleotide pyrophosphatase phosphodiesterase 3; cChemoattractant-homologous receptor expressed on Th2 cells; dLysosome-associated membrane protein.