How does the immune system use basophils?
The immune system uses different types of white blood cells to defend the human body against foreign attackers. Of these types of white blood cells, basophils are designed to release histamine. Histamine is most often associated with allergic reactions, but its real purpose is to increase blood flow to the body, which the immune system considers to be an attack from foreign substances. These white blood cells also serve as an attractor for other cells needed to combat invasive bacteria and other threats.
Basophils are part of the innate immunity of the body. In other words, these components of the immune system are present at birth, unlike obtaining from an exposure of a biological threat. The primary function of basophiles is to release histamine in response to allergens. Histamine increases blood flow, which brings increased and constant supply of various white blood cells that bears any foreign substance that the immune system considers to be a threat. Increased blood flow also leads to stereotypical inflammation associated with allergic reactions.
histamine also causes neutrophils and eosinophils to leave blood circulation and destroy the threatening cells. Neutrophils and eosinophils are also types of white blood cells, with neutrophils being the most common and the first to mount the defense against attacking cells. Neutrophils acting on the basophile signal immediately respond by release of enzymes that break down bacteria, foreign cells and other microscopic threats. Without the necessary basophilic signal, neutrophils must rely on signals from damaged tissue or proteins from attacking bacteria to encounter an answer.
When a particular threat involves the cells too large to make neutrophils for ingestion, the eosinophils serve as the second line of defense. Granules produced by eosinophils are toxic to invasive cells and pill the holes into the external membranes of threatening cells. From these these are less active than other white blood cells, their primary function is to connect to parasites and other large bunsAny attackers. Eosinophils also release chemicals that contribute to inflammation that have begun bassophils, further attracting more white blood cells to the affected area.
The following scenario illustrates how the immune system uses basophils and other white blood cells when presented with a perceived threat. A young man, allergic to roses, accidentally scratches the arm on the spines of the pink shrub. When the skin breaks, the microscopic cell of the pink shrub, along with bacteria or parasites, plunges into the body. Loosen the nearby basophils, confronted with allergen, histamine. Histamine causes inflammation and increased blood flow to collect enough white blood cells and also attract neutrophils and eosinophils. Neutrophils continue to attack and ingest the cells of the pink shrub, while the eosinophils are brought and destroyed by larger bacteria and parasites to prevent infection.