title: Detection of antigen-specific IgE-plaque-forming cells from peripheral-blood lymphocytes of ragweed- and grass-allergic patients.
abstract: The reverse haemolytic plaque assay was developed to measure antigen (AgE or rye grass I)-specific IgE-plaque-forming cells from the peripheral-blood lymphocytes of ragweed- and grass-allergic patients. The anti-IgE-developing antisera was shown to be isotype-specific, and the response of the assay was inhibited by 52% by the addition of 10 pg of antigen. In addition, the assay was shown to have a reproducibility (s.d.) of 15%. The blood lymphocytes from all fifteen atopic (grass and ragweed) patients were shown to form antigen-specific IgE-plaque-forming cells during the pollen season (mean value 115 cells) and up to 6 months after the season (mean value 56 cells). Cycloheximide appears to block the formation of the plaque-forming cells. This method appears to be sensitive and reproducible enough to study in vitro IgE antibody synthesis of peripheral-blood lymphocytes from atopics.
mesh_terms: D000918:Antibody Specificity; D000921:Antibody-Producing Cells / Q000276:immunology*; D006462:Hemolytic Plaque Technique; D006801:Humans; D007073:Immunoglobulin E / Q000096:biosynthesis*; D066298:In Vitro Techniques; D008214:Lymphocytes / Q000276:immunology; D011058:Pollen / Q000276:immunology*; D006255:Rhinitis, Allergic, Seasonal / Q000276:immunology*
chemical_list: D007073:Immunoglobulin E