title: In vivo enhancement of the specific antibody response via the low-affinity receptor for IgE.
abstract: The ability of antigen-specific IgE antibodies to modulate the in vivo antibody response was studied by comparing the antibody response in mice immunized with 2,4,6-trinitrophenyl (TNP)-specific monoclonal IgE followed by bovine serum albumin (BSA)-TNP or with BSA-TNP alone. The serum IgG antibody response against BSA, measured in enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay ELISA, was enhanced up to 100-fold in groups receiving IgE. The enhancement required specific interaction between IgE and antigen, since no effect was seen when unconjugated BSA was used as antigen. Polyclonal activation by IgE/antigen complexes did not occur. IgE given 24 h after specific antigen had no stimulatory capacity. Pretreatment of the mice with Fc epsilon receptor type II (Fc epsilon RII)-specific monoclonal antibody completely inhibited the IgE-mediated enhancement. Thus, the data demonstrate for the first time an in vivo role for Fc epsilon RII in enhancement of specific antibody production.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pathology, Uppsala University, Sweden.
authors.forename: B
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Heyman
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Tianmin
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Gustavsson
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000917:Antibody Formation; D000941:Antigens; D007073:Immunoglobulin E / Q000276:immunology*; D051379:Mice; D017455:Receptors, IgE / Q000502:physiology*; D015398:Signal Transduction
chemical_list: D000941:Antigens; D017455:Receptors, IgE; D007073:Immunoglobulin E