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Purification of Basophils from Peripheral Human Blood

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Basophils and Mast Cells

Part of the book series: Methods in Molecular Biology ((MIMB,volume 2163))

Abstract

The purification of basophils from peripheral blood has represented a formidable challenge for researchers since they were discovered by Paul Ehrlich in 1879. From the first published attempts in the late 1960s, it took half a century to develop robust protocols able to give sufficient numbers of pure, functionally unimpaired basophils. The existing protocols for basophil purification exploit those properties of basophils which distinguish them from other cell types such as their localization in blood, density, and the presence or absence of surface markers. Purification techniques have been used in various combinations and variations to achieve a common goal in mind: to obtain a pure population of human basophils in sufficient numbers for downstream studies. The arduous way leading up to the modern protocols is summarized in this historical retrospective. A fast protocol for purification of basophils to near homogeneity is also described.

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Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Institute for Parasitology, Justus Liebig University Giessen, Biomedizinisches Forschungszentrum Seltersberg (BFS), Giessen, Germany

    Franco H. Falcone

  2. Division of Experimental Allergology and Immunodermatology, Department of Human Medicine, School of Medicine and Health Sciences, Carl von Ossietzky University of Oldenburg, Oldenburg, Germany

    Bernhard F. Gibbs

Authors
  1. Franco H. Falcone
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  2. Bernhard F. Gibbs
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to Franco H. Falcone .

Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

  1. Division of Experimental Allergology and Immunodermatology, Department of Human Medicine, School of Medicine and Health Sciences, Carl von Ossietzky University of Oldenburg, Oldenburg, Germany

    Bernhard F. Gibbs

  2. Institute for Parasitology, Justus Liebig University Giessen, Biomedizinisches Forschungszentrum Seltersberg (BFS), Giessen, Germany

    Franco H. Falcone

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Falcone, F.H., Gibbs, B.F. (2020). Purification of Basophils from Peripheral Human Blood. In: Gibbs, B.F., Falcone, F.H. (eds) Basophils and Mast Cells. Methods in Molecular Biology, vol 2163. Humana, New York, NY. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-0716-0696-4_2

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-0716-0696-4_2

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  • Publisher Name: Humana, New York, NY

  • Print ISBN: 978-1-0716-0695-7

  • Online ISBN: 978-1-0716-0696-4

  • eBook Packages: Springer Protocols

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