RESULTS: We found a drastic decrease in IL-4 production by stimulated basophils on exposure to serotonin (5-hydroxytryptamine [5-HT]) that is taken up by basophils through the specific high-affinity transporters serotonin transporter and the polyspecific, high-capacity organic cation transporter 3 (OCT3; or Slc22a3) but inhibits their function exclusively through the latter.