Basophils , also called granular leukocytes, are the least common of the granulocytes, representing about 0.5% to 1% of circulating leukocytes (white blood cells). They contain large cytoplasmic granules which obscure the cell nucleus under the microscope. However, when unstained, the nucleus is visible and it usually has 2 lobes. Like all circulating granulocytes, basophils can be recruited out of the blood into a tissue when needed.

2D7

• an IgG1 kappa Ab that labeled basophils (granule specific), but not lymphocytes, monocytes, eosinophils, neutrophils, and mast cells by an indirect immunoperoxidase procedure. In summary, the 2D7 ligand appears to be a specific marker for human basophils and may facilitate the assessment of basophil involvement in diseases such as asthma, anaphylaxis, and atopic dermatitis. PMID: 7759888, PMID: 16461568

97A6

• detects a surface antigen expressed on basophils and their CD34(+) precursor cells, as well as the basophil cell line KU-812, is identical to the ectonucleotide pyrophosphatase / phosphodiesterase 3 (E-NPP3). PMID: 11342463

BB1 (Basogranulin)

• a new immunohistochemical basophil marker that should allow quantification of basophils in CML at diagnosis and during therapy. PMID: 16393678

Bsp-1

• an IgM murine monoclonal antibody raised against the human erythroblastic leukemia cell line (HEL) that reacts with basophils but not neutrophils or eosinophils, might therefore be a useful reagent for the study of basophil function and differentiation. PMID: 2436686
• surface expression of the basophil marker. PMID: 9794446
• a specific marker for human basophils, whereas mast cells were not stained by this reagent. PMID: 1971264
• selectively reacts with human basophils was used to label basophils in normal and leukaemic haemopoietic samples. PMID: 3479996

CCR3 (eotaxin-receptor)

• The most robust maker and seems to be sufficient to specifically identify basophils. PMID: 16197480
• Eosinophil leukocytes express high numbers of the chemokine receptor CCR3 which binds eotaxin, monocyte chemotactic protein (MCP)-4, and some other CC chemokines. CCR3 is also highly expressed on human blood basophils. PMID: 9276730

CD11a/CD11b/CD11c

• basophils expressCD11a, CD11b and CD11c. PMID: 11737228, PMID: 1706397

CD13 (WS-80274, clone A8)

• a novel basophil-activation marker. PMID: 15916720

CD44 and CD54

• constitutively expressed on basophils and moderately upregulated by IL-3. PMID: 11994706

CD63 (gp53)

• a marker of in vitro basophil activation in identifying the culprit in insect venom allergy. PMID: 15160437
• a marker of in vitro basophil activation and leukotriene determination in metamizol allergic patients. PMID: 12708979
• human basophil activation marker, expressed on the membrane of activated basophils. PMID: 7524523, PMID: 11350309

CD69

• expression on basophils was preferentially and strongly upregulated by IL-3. CD69 on basophils might be useful as an in vitro as well as in vivo marker of activation of these cells by IL-3. PMID: 11994706

CD107a (WS-80280, clone E63-880)

• a novel basophil-activation marker. PMID: 15916720

CD164 (WS-80160, clone N6B6 and WS-80162, clone 67D2)

• a novel basophil-activation marker. PMID: 15916720

CD203c (E-NPP3)

• a novel basophil specific marker. PMID: 16399248
• a marker for cell activation and allergy diagnosis. PMID: 15031605

CDw17 (lactosylceramide)

• basophil-specific antigens. PMID: 11999362

IL-3

• a differentiation factor for human basophils. PMID: 2469498
• the most potent activator of human basophils, and that the rank order of potency of hemopoietic growth factors virtually corresponded to their receptor expression levels in both cell types. PMID: 12604332

IL-4 Receptors

• Human basophils express interleukin-4 receptors. PMID: 1699621

Integrins

• basophils express beta 1, beta 2, and beta 7 integrins along with sialylated surface ligands that may interact with the endothelium during basophil recruitment responses. PMID: 8752937

Interleukin-4 (IL-4)

• a multipotential lymphokine reputed to play an important role in the regulation of immune responses, interacts with a variety of hemopoietic target cells through specific cell surface membrane receptors. PMID: 1699621

MBP (Major Basic Protein)

• an arginine-rich basic polypeptide that constitutes the crystalloid core of the large specific eosinophil granule, has previously been shown to stimulate noncytolytic histamine release from human basophils and rat mast cells by an IgE-independent mechanism. PMID: 6206154, PMID: 2469646

MMCP-8

• the first lineage-specific differentiation marker for mouse basophils. PMID: 11009100  

NCA

• might be a marker on the surface of some human basophils. PMID: 74231

PSGL-1 (CD162)

• Its expression on basophils has been detected in leukocyte typing workshops. PMID: 11080715

TLR4 (Toll-like receptor-4)

• TLR4 on basophils may be involved in the pathogenesis of infection-induced exacerbation of allergic inflammation by modulating basophil functions. PMID: 16772723

Other Basophil Markers

• Systemic activation of basophils and eosinophils: markers and consequences. PMID: 11080745
• The surface membrane antigen phenotype of human blood basophils. PMID: 7709996