title: IL-4-dependent induction of IgE basophils in peripheral blood and IgE B cells in spleen as respective indicators of allergen sensitization and a precursor of cells secreting allergen-specific IgE antibody.
abstract: It was recently reported by us that either primary i.n. or i.p. injection of cedar pollen extract into BALB/c mice, or a second s.c. injection of the allergen into i.v. or s.c. sensitized mice, causes an IL-4-dependent increase in total IgE serum antibody to produce allergen-specific IgE antibody upon further s.c. sensitization. To determine the biology of total IgE antibody, in the present study IgE+ cells in peripheral blood or lymphoid tissues of allergen-sensitized BALB/c mice have been characterized. In peripheral blood, mice sensitized one to three times with the allergen produced a 2.5- to 4-fold increase in the number of IgE+ cells, with a time-course similar to that of the concentration of total IgE antibody in serum. These IgE+ cells were basophils. On the other hand, the number of IgE+ cells in the lymphoid tissues did not change significantly after an i.n., i.p., i.v. or s.c. injection of allergen into the mice, whereas a second s.c. injection of the allergen into the i.v.-, but not into the i.n.-, i.p.- or s.c.-, sensitized mice induced a small number of IgE+/IgM+/B220+ B cells in the spleen. In contrast, IgE+ cells were not seen in the blood or spleen of IL-4 -/- mice after sensitization with the allergen. These results suggest that IgE+ basophils in the peripheral blood, and IgE+ B cells in the spleen, might be IL-4-dependently induced as an indicator of sensitization with allergen, and a precursor of cells secreting allergen-specific IgE antibody, respectively.
authors.affiliation: Department of Physiology, Osaka Medical College, Takatsuki, Japan.
authors.forename: Masako
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Miyoshi-Higashino
authors.forename: Masayo
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Hirano
authors.forename: Hiromi
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Ogita-Nakanishi
authors.forename: Yumiko
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Yamamoto-Kimoto
authors.forename: Kanji
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Sakurai
authors.forename: Junko
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Tashiro-Yamaji
authors.forename: Hayahito
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Nomi
authors.forename: Takeshi
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Takahashi
authors.forename: Sayako
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Miura-Takeda
authors.forename: Hiroshi
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Takenaka
authors.forename: Takahiro
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Kubota
authors.forename: Ryotaro
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Yoshida
mesh_terms: D000485:Allergens / Q000276:immunology*; D000818:Animals; D001402:B-Lymphocytes / Q000276:immunology*; D001491:Basophils / Q000276:immunology*; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D032485:Cryptomeria / Q000737:chemistry; D006801:Humans; D006967:Hypersensitivity / Q000097:blood / Q000276:immunology*; D007114:Immunization; D007073:Immunoglobulin E / Q000097:blood* / Q000276:immunology; D015847:Interleukin-4 / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology*; D007963:Leukocytes, Mononuclear / Q000276:immunology; D051379:Mice; D008807:Mice, Inbred BALB C; D018345:Mice, Knockout; D010936:Plant Extracts / Q000276:immunology; D011058:Pollen / Q000276:immunology; D013154:Spleen / Q000276:immunology*
chemical_list: D000485:Allergens; D010936:Plant Extracts; D015847:Interleukin-4; D007073:Immunoglobulin E