# BASOPHIL HYPERSENSITIVITY AND IMMUNE HOST RESISTANCE

> **NIH NIH R01** · YALE UNIVERSITY · 1987 · $197,361

## Abstract

The purpose of these studies is to determine the role of elements of
immediate hypersensitivity - allergic disease mechanisms, such as
basophils, mast cells and anaphylactic antibodies (IgE and IgG1 in
animals), in immune resistance responses to parasites.

Ticks are important ectoparasites of animals and humans and are also
vectors of many infectious agents.  Immune resistance responses to ticks
are accompanied by very large basophil infiltrates.  We have found that
basophils are required to effect this immune rejection of ectoparasites and
that the infiltration of basophils is dependent on anti-tick IgG1
antibodies and on sensitized cells.

In planned new experiments we will determine whether host Fc receptors are
involved in the mechanism of action of these antibodies that mediate immune
cutaneous basophil resistance responses to ticks.  We will also determine
if IgE antibodies are similarly involved and we will identify whether T
cells are responsible for cell-mediated resistance.  These latter studies
will be accomplished by fractionation of sensitized cells in vitro and also
by treatment in vivo with monoclonal anti-T cell antibodies.  The mechanism
of basophil dependent resistance to ticks will be investigated in
experiments dealing with basophil derived mediators such as histamine,
procoagulants and products of arachadonic acid metabolism.

In subsequent experiments we will investigate whether newly recognized
antigen specific T cell factors are involved in basophil-dependent immune
resistance responses to ectoparasites (ticks) in guinea pigs.

These studies should further advance knowledge of immune resistance to
parasites, and should also provide more information about the biological
value of allergic disease mechanisms.

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 3127272
- **Project number:** 5R01AI017555-06
- **Recipient organization:** YALE UNIVERSITY
- **SAM.gov UEI:** FL6GV84CKN57
- **Principal Investigator:** PHILIP William ASKENASE
- **Activity code:** R01 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 1987
- **Award amount:** $197,361
- **Award type:** 5
- **Project period:** 1981-06-01 → 1988-08-31

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/3127272

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 3127272, BASOPHIL HYPERSENSITIVITY AND IMMUNE HOST RESISTANCE (5R01AI017555-06). Retrieved via MORVS 2026-10-25 from https://api.morvs.ai/grant/nih/3127272. Licensed CC0.

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