The expression of IgE Fc receptors on lymphocytes of allergic patients.
Peripheral blood lymphocytes from nonatopic subjects and atopic patients were analyzed for cells expressing Fc receptors for IgE (Fc epsilon R). Nonatopic humans and atopic patients in remission had approximately 1 percent of Fc epsilon R+ peripheral blood lymphocytes. Usually greater than 99 percent of these cells were mIgM+/mIgD+ B cells. However, in approximately 10 percent of nonatopic and atopic subjects a transient increase of Fc epsilon R+ lymphocytes to 3-6 percent was observed in the absence of any disease manifestations and measurable changes in the serum IgE level. At times of increased numbers of peripheral blood Fc epsilon R+ lymphocytes, up to 1 percent Fc epsilon R+ positive cells were detected in isolated T cell preparations. The Fc epsilon R+ T cells reacted with the monoclonal antibody Lyt 3 to the sheep erythrocyte receptor of human T cells but not the anti-T cell antibody OKT3, and fractions also with the monoclonal antibodies OKT8 (cytotoxic and suppressor T cells) and OKM1, which binds to an antigen present on monocytes and a subpopulation of T cells and large granular lymphocytes. No OKT4+ (helper T cells) Fc epsilon R+ cells were detected. The reactivity with monoclonal antibodies to T cell subsets of the Fc epsilon R+ T cells paralleled the reactivity of the IgG Fc receptor positive T cells. In contrast to patients with allergic rhinitis and asthma, patients with severe atopic dermatitis or the Hyper IgE Syndrome always had significantly elevated percentage of Fc epsilon R+ lymphocytes (4-10 percent), which were almost entirely B cells since less than 0.1 percent Fc epsilon R+ T cells were detected in these patients. Atopic dermatitis patients receiving systemic corticosteroid treatment had only 0.2 percent Fc epsilon R+ lymphocytes which was significantly less than the 1 percent of the nonatopic control donors. Attempts to define the function of Fc epsilon R on human B and T lymphocytes have been unsuccessful thus far; however, the increase of Fc epsilon R+ cells associated with atopic disease in man and parasitic infections in rats and mice suggest that Fc epsilon R+ lymphocyte may be involved in the IgE isotype regulation.
Spiegelberg
H L
HL
Department of Immunology, Research Institute of Scripps Clinic, La Jolla, CA 92037.
D000818:Animals; D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal; D000944:Antigens, Differentiation, B-Lymphocyte / Q000276:immunology*; D001402:B-Lymphocytes / Q000032:analysis*; D006801:Humans; D006967:Hypersensitivity / Q000276:immunology*; D051381:Rats; D011961:Receptors, Fc / Q000276:immunology*; D017455:Receptors, IgE; D013601:T-Lymphocytes / Q000032:analysis*
D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal; D000944:Antigens, Differentiation, B-Lymphocyte; D011961:Receptors, Fc; D017455:Receptors, IgE