Basophils are a type of white blood cell that plays an important role in the immune system. These basophil cells play an important role in producing an inflammatory reaction to fight infection. In addition, basophils also play a role in the emergence of allergic reactions.
Blood consists of several components, one of which is white blood cells or also called leukocytes. These white blood cells consist of various kinds, one of which is basophils.
This type of blood cell is produced in the bone marrow and is part of the immune system that functions to fight germs that cause infection, heal wounds, and destroy substances or toxins that could potentially harm the body.
What are the Roles of Basophil White Blood Cells?
Basophil cells have several functions in the body, including:
Destroy foreign objects that enter the body
Basophils are part of the immune system or the body's immune system. One way basophils work is to detect foreign germs, viruses, or parasites that enter the body, then capture and destroy them.
When an infection occurs, basophil cells will call other white blood cells to produce antibodies and eradicate microorganisms that cause infection.
Prevent blood clotting
Basophil white blood cells function to store and release heparin, a blood-thinning substance that plays a role in preventing blood clots. This substance will be released by basophils when the body is injured or infected.
Produces inflammation due to allergic reactions
An allergic reaction is actually a form of the body's resistance to certain substances that are considered dangerous, when in fact they are not.
When the body experiences an allergic reaction, basophil white blood cells will release histamine and encourage the body to produce immunoglobulin E (IgE) antibodies, which are antibodies produced by the immune system to fight allergy-causing substances or allergens that enter the body.
Why Basophil Levels In The Body Can Change and What Causes It?
The normal level of basophils is about 1-3 percent of the total white blood cells or about 0-200 basophils per microliter of blood. However, some conditions can cause basophil levels in the body to increase. These conditions include:
- Myeloproliferative disorders
This condition refers to a condition when the bone marrow produces too many white blood cells, red blood cells, or platelets. Some examples of diseases that are included in this myeloproliferative disorder include leukemia, polycythemia vera, myelofibrosis, and thrombocytopenia.
- Autoimmune disease
This condition occurs when the body's immune system attacks healthy cells or tissues in the absence of infection or other triggers. Some examples of autoimmune diseases that can cause basophil counts to increase, include rheumatoid arthritis and inflammatory bowel disease.
- HypothyroidismHypothyroidism occurs when your thyroid gland doesn't produce enough thyroid hormone. If the thyroid hormone in the body is low, the body's metabolic function will slow down. This condition can also cause the bone marrow to produce more white blood cells, including basophils.
Symptoms include facial swelling, hoarseness, rough skin, constipation, drowsiness, weight gain, and sensitivity to cold.
In addition, the following conditions can also lower your basophil levels:
- Hyperthyroidism
Excess thyroid hormone can cause your body to react by speeding up your metabolism. This condition can also cause a decrease in the number of basophils in the body. Symptoms include increased heart rate, increased blood pressure, excessive sweating, restlessness, and weight loss
- Infection
Infection with germs, viruses, and parasites is one of the causes of decreased levels of basophils. This is especially so when the immune system is overworked to fight off infection.
However, certain infectious diseases, such as tuberculosis and influenza, can actually increase the level of basophils in the blood.
- Acute allergic reaction
This condition is characterized by an excessive body reaction to a substance (allergen). An acute allergic reaction can cause symptoms such as itching, sneezing, runny nose, cough, and runny eyes or nose.
Although rare, allergic reactions can be severe enough to be potentially life-threatening. This condition is called an anaphylactic reaction and needs to be treated as soon as possible by a doctor in a hospital.
Various conditions that can cause an increase or decrease in the number of basophils in the blood need to be treated immediately. Complete blood count and leukocyte count are the only ways to determine the level of basophil white blood cells in the body.
If the results of a blood test show that the number of basophils in your body is problematic, especially if you have a history of disease or have certain health complaints, you should immediately consult a doctor to get the right treatment.