IgE receptor-bearing lymphocytes in allergic and nonallergic children.
Using a monoclonal anti-human IgE receptor (Fc epsilon R) antibody, the percentage of Fc epsilon R(+) cells among peripheral blood lymphocytes in children with or without allergic disorders was determined. The percentage of Fc epsilon R(+) cells in 63 nonallergic children was 4.3 +/- 1.5%, which did not vary with age and was equal to that of adults (4.2 +/- 1.2%). Allergic younger children (0-2 yr) showed a significantly higher percentage of Fc epsilon R(+) cells (7.7 +/- 3.0%) than nonallergic younger children (0-2 yr) (4.0 +/- 1.3%, p less than 0.001). Similarly, in allergic younger children, serum IgE levels (geometric mean = 58.9 IU/ml) were also significantly higher than those of nonallergic younger children (geometric mean = 2.0 IU/ml) (p less than 0.01). A positive correlation between the percentages of Fc epsilon R(+) cells and serum IgE levels was observed (Spearman rank = 0.88, p less than 0.01] in eight allergic younger children (0-2 yr) with serum IgE levels higher than 100 IU/ml. The increase in the percentage of Fc epsilon R(+) cells in allergic younger children (0-2 yr) was not a secondary phenomenon caused by serum IgE because serum IgE levels in these children were much lower than the concentration at which IgE enhance Fc epsilon R expression on lymphocytes. In conclusion, Fc epsilon R(+) lymphocytes may play a regulatory role in IgE synthesis in allergic younger children (0-2 yr).
Kim
K M
KM
Department of Pediatrics, Faculty of Medicine, Kyoto University, Japan.
Mayumi
M
M
Iwai
Y
Y
Tanaka
M
M
Ito
S
S
Shinomiya
K
K
Mikawa
H
H
D000293:Adolescent; D000367:Age Factors; D000944:Antigens, Differentiation, B-Lymphocyte / Q000032:analysis*; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D006967:Hypersensitivity / Q000276:immunology*; D007073:Immunoglobulin E / Q000096:biosynthesis*; D007223:Infant; D008214:Lymphocytes / Q000276:immunology*; D008297:Male; D011961:Receptors, Fc / Q000032:analysis*; D017455:Receptors, IgE
D000944:Antigens, Differentiation, B-Lymphocyte; D011961:Receptors, Fc; D017455:Receptors, IgE; D007073:Immunoglobulin E