Serum basophil-stimulating activity in the guinea-pig during induction of basophilic responses to ovalbumin and tick feeding.

We have described functional and biochemical characteristics of a distinct T-cell dependent guinea-pig basophil-stimulating factor (BSF), measured using a sensitive 7-day bone marrow culture assay, standardized with high-activity BSF present in serum-free splenic cell-conditioned medium (CM). In the present studies, the in vivo relevance of BSF was explored during protocols of induction of peripheral blood or tissue basophil responses to …