Bloody Minded Episode 60 - Twenty Pages About Basophils | Approach to Basophilia
Sep 2, 2025
Dive into the delightful world of basophils, the unsung heroes of the immune system! Discover their quirky roles in inflammation and allergies, along with the challenges of detecting basophilia in blood tests. The hosts blend humor with crucial insights about chronic myeloid leukemia and the complexities of basophilic conditions. Plus, there's fascinating trivia about snapping turtles that adds a fun twist! Tune in for a unique blend of science and wit as they uncover these minutiae.
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Small Numbers, Big Effect
- Basophils are rare (≈0.5–1% of WBCs) but carry many vasoactive granules like histamine, heparin, elastase and serotonin.
- Their granule content gives them outsized inflammatory and allergic effects despite low numbers.
Basophils And Mast Cells Are Kin
- Basophils and mast cells are evolutionarily related and share functional similarities like IgE sensors and granular storage.
- Comparative immunology shows some species (e.g., snapping turtles) have very high basophil proportions, hinting at diverse roles across animals.
Always Confirm Analyzer Basophilia
- If an analyzer reports basophilia, confirm with a peripheral blood film because automated counts of basophils are unreliable.
- Use morphology to verify basophils since circulating basophils are visually distinctive.