Charcot-Leyden crystal protein in the degranulation and recovery of activated basophils

Abstract: The Charcot-Leyden crystal (CLC) protein, a prominent cell constituent unique to eosinophils and basophils, possesses lysophospholipase activity. This ac-tivity and the extracellular deposition and formation of CLC in tissues and body fluids in association with eo-sinophils suggest an extracellular function for this protein in inflammation. During degranulation, basophils release granule-derived mediators of inflammation. We postu-lated that CLC protein, localized in part to the basophil granule, might be released along with other mediators during this process. The extracellular release of CLC pro-tein was studied during the degranulation of basophils stimulated by anti-immunoglobulin E (anti-IgE), N-formyl-methionyl-leucyl-phenylalanine (fMLP), phorbol myristate acetate, eosinophil major basic protein (MBP)