Basophils from both human and mouse are effector cells of allergic inflammation. In the last few years it was demonstrated that basophils own additional attributes that enable them to play multifaceted roles in immunoregulation. Namely, it has been shown that basophils initiate Th2 differentiation1-5, regulate

Mast cells (MCs) are now regarded not only as effector cells playing a detrimental role in IgE-mediated allergic responses (Fig. 1) but also and more importantly as key players in host defences including via allergy-mediated processes. In this respect, mast cell responses during hypersensitivity reactions

Actin cytoskeleton has been implicated at early FcεRI-mediated signaling events as well as at later steps leading to degranulation and/or cell migration (1). In initial biochemical studies aggregation of the FcεRI caused rapid decrease in the amount of filamentous (F)-actin followed by its subsequent increase

Activation of mast cells is characterized by dramatic changes in cell morphology, intracellular transport and exocytosis. All these processes depend on the activities of cytoskeletal filamentous structures – microtubules, microfilaments and intermediate filaments. Different regulatory pathways regulate cytoskeletal functions indispensable for mast cell degranulation. Microtubules