Better Understanding the Role of a White Blood Cell Type in SARS-CoV-2 Immune Response

Image of a basophil showing the granules (dark circles) characteristic of granulocytes. ©Inserm/Janine Breton-Gorius Although the response of various immune cells to SARS-CoV-2 infection has been relatively well studied, that of basophils (a category of white blood cells) had not been characterized yet - mainly because of their rarity in that they represent around 0.5% of the body's white blood cells. In a new study, researchers from Inserm, Sorbonne Université, Université de Paris, CNRS, Institut Pasteur and Efrei describe how basophils respond to SARS-CoV-2 infection. They show that exposure to the virus activates them, leading to the production of certain cytokines and helping to reduce inflammation and promote the secretion of antibodies. The findings of this study were published in Frontiers in Immunology on February 24, 2022. Basophils are leukocytes (white blood cells) that play a key role in immune response. They are produced in the bone marrow and make up around 0.5% of all leukocytes.