title: IgE synthesis in aging. Enhancement of IgE production in subjects with autoantibodies.
abstract: Serum IgE levels were measured in two groups of healthy elderly subjects: a first group of 18 with circulating autoantibodies (sign of a probable deficit of suppressor T lymphocytes) and a second group of 15 without circulating autoantibodies. The IgE levels in the first group (average 1032 U/ml) resulted significantly higher than those in the second group (average 103 U/ml), P less than 0.05. This result can be related to a deficit of suppressor T lymphocytes functionality, present in these subjects, which would cause, besides the appearance of autoantibodies, also an increase of serum IgE levels. Moreover, this phenomenon seems to confirm that in man, too, as in experimental animals, IgE synthesis is under the control of suppressor T lymphocytes specific for IgE. From a clinical viewpoint, the two populations studied do not differentiate and no symptoms of atopy were observed in subjects with high IgE levels.
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D000375:Aging; D000818:Animals; D001323:Autoantibodies / Q000096:biosynthesis*; D006801:Humans; D007073:Immunoglobulin E / Q000096:biosynthesis*; D051381:Rats; D012217:Rheumatoid Factor
chemical_list: D001323:Autoantibodies; D007073:Immunoglobulin E; D012217:Rheumatoid Factor