title: IgE+ cells in the peripheral blood of atopic, nonatopic, and bee venom-hypersensitive individuals exhibit the phenotype of highly differentiated B cells.
abstract: We have analyzed IgE+ cells in peripheral blood of atopic donors, donors hypersensitive to bee venom, and nonatopic control donors with two- and three-color flow cytometry. Although the percentage of IgE+ cells varied among these groups, the overall phenotypic patterns were similar. Most IgE+ cells do not display typical B-cell markers, such as CD19, CD20, and CD21. A significant proportion of these cells stain for CD38, indicating that they are more differentiated. IgE+ cells express Fc gamma RII and CD45RO, an isoform associated with an advanced level of differentiation. The majority of IgE+ cells do not coexpress other surface immunoglobulin isotypes. In the case of bee venom-hypersensitive donors, we have been able to identify a small population of IgE+ cells with a specificity for phospholipase A2, a major immunogenic component of bee venom. The phospholipase A2+ cells display a phenotype similar to that of the IgE+ cells.
authors.affiliation: Department of Clinical Immunology, Flinders Medical Centre, Bedford Park, South Australia.
authors.forename: P J
authors.initials: PJ
authors.lastname: Donohoe
authors.forename: R J
authors.initials: RJ
authors.lastname: Heddle
authors.forename: P J
authors.initials: PJ
authors.lastname: Sykes
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Fusco
authors.forename: L R
authors.initials: LR
authors.lastname: Flego
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Zola
mesh_terms: D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal; D000918:Antibody Specificity; D001402:B-Lymphocytes / Q000276:immunology*; D001514:Bee Venoms / Q000276:immunology*; D002469:Cell Separation / Q000295:instrumentation / Q000379:methods; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D005434:Flow Cytometry / Q000295:instrumentation / Q000379:methods; D006801:Humans; D006969:Hypersensitivity, Immediate / Q000097:blood / Q000276:immunology*; D007073:Immunoglobulin E / Q000097:blood*; D007132:Immunoglobulin Isotypes / Q000097:blood; D016130:Immunophenotyping / Q000379:methods; D013194:Staining and Labeling / Q000379:methods
chemical_list: D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal; D001514:Bee Venoms; D007132:Immunoglobulin Isotypes; D007073:Immunoglobulin E