STIMulating basophils
The ER-resident Ca2+ sensors stromal interaction molecule 1 (STIM1) and STIM2 promote store-operated Ca2+ entry, which is required for immune cell function (see the Focus by Alansary and Niemeyer). Using basophils from conditional knockout mice, Yoshikawa et al. found that STIM2 was required for production of the cytokine IL-4 in vitro in response to IL-3, whereas STIM1 was necessary for IL-4 production in response to antigen-antibody complexes. In mice, the development of antigen-dependent allergic inflammation required STIM1 expression in basophils, but the response to a combination of IL-3 and IL-33 required basophil expression of STIM2. These results suggest that the STIM proteins in basophils have distinct roles in mediating responses to antigens or cytokines.
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