Functional role of self IA molecules in polyclonal B cell activation using an autoreactive B cell clone derived from (NZB X NZW) F1 mice.

The mechanism of polyclonal B cell activation in autoimmune diseases was investigated by using an autoreactive B cell clone established by somatic hybridization with B cells derived from NZB X NZW (B/W) F1 mice. Briefly, splenic B cells from B/W F1 mice were fused with M12.4.1, a mutant of a B cell line, in the presence of polyethylene glycol and DMSO. NW47.7, a subclone of a resulting hybridoma, expresses B cell surface antigens on the cell membrane, namely IAd, IgM, B220, the receptors for the C3 fragment of complement (C3R), and the Fc portion of IgG (Fc gamma R). It also possesses a receptor molecule for mouse red blood cells treated with bromelain (Br-MRBC) on its surface, by rosette-forming assay with Br-MRBC. In contrast, parental M12.4.1 does not express IAd and IgM on the cell membrane, and does not bind to Br-MRBC under the same conditions. Thus, it is likely that NW47.7 may be an autoreactive B cell clone specific for Br-MRBC. Interestingly, NW47.7 was induced to generate a significant number of IgM-secreting cells when treated with Br-MRBC and rIL-5. Furthermore, mAb against IAd molecules, but not IAk and KdDd, markedly inhibited the differentiative effect of polyclonal activators such as LPS and rIL-5. Also, when MHC identical irradiated B cells were added to the culture of NW47.7 as a stimulator, the induction of IgM-producing cells was greatly augmented, but this augmenting effect was lost by interfering with direct contact of NW47.7 cells with stimulator B cells using a semipermeable membrane, as well as by the addition of mAb against IAd molecules. In addition, irradiated NW47.7, but not M12.4.1, by itself could enhance the secretion of IgM by NW47.7 as a stimulator, but this enhancing effect markedly decreased in the presence of anti-IAd mAb. The present results suggest that surface IA molecules on B cells are involved during the differentiative response to polyclonal activators, and may directly provide a differentiative signal for maturation of B cells into IgM-secreting cells.     

Barnase toxin: a new chimeric toxin composed of pseudomonas exotoxin A and barnase

We have constructed a chimeric toxin composed of Pseudomonas exotoxin A (PE) and the extracellular ribonuclease of Bacillus amyloliquefaciens, barnase. The chimeric protein, termed PE-Bar, reacted with both anti-PE and anti-barnase antisera and had both ADP ribosylation and ribonuclease activities. The chimeric toxin was cytotoxic to the murine fibroblast cell line L929 and to a murine hybridoma resistant to PE. A mutant form of PE-Bar lacking ADP-ribosylating activity was still cytotoxic to L929 cells. Because treatment of cells prelabeld with [3H]uridine resulted in a decrease in their RNA content, we conclude that this cytotoxic effect was due to the ribonuclease activity of barnase molecules that had been translocated to the cytosol. It is now possible to construct chimeric toxins with two or more enzymatic activities that can be delivered to the cytosol of the target cells.     

人IL17-RD胞外区真核表达及其单克隆抗体的制备

为了进一步研究白介素17受体D (IL-17RD) 在IL-17信号的调节作用,探索是否可以通过单克隆抗体阻断IL-17RD介导的IL-17信号通路而缓解自身免疫疾病,利用昆虫表达载体从Sf9细胞中表达纯化人IL-17RD-ECD蛋白,免疫Balb/C小鼠30 d,取小鼠脾脏细胞并与小鼠骨髓瘤细胞SP2/0进行融合,应用有限稀释法进行筛选,经过克隆化后筛选到一株能稳定分泌抗IL-17RD-ECD的杂交瘤细胞株1F8。经过初步鉴定,该细胞株分泌的抗体类型为IgG1+kappa类,经过Western blot     

Development of recombinant B subunit of Shiga-like Toxin 1 as a probe to detect carbohydrate ligands in immunochemical and flowcytometric application

Measurement of carbohydrate binding activity of Escherichia coli Shiga-like toxin in a simple and quantitative way is an important step for evaluation of antibodies with therapeutic value and of effectiveness of vaccine treatment. We constructed a plasmid vector (pVT1-B5) to express carbohydrate binding (B) subunit of Shiga-like toxin 1 without expression of toxic (A) subunit, and established a simple method to purify the recombinant B subunit, which was then labeled with digoxigenin. The binding specificity of the digoxigenin-labeled B subunit for globotriaosylceramide was established by thin-layer chromatography immunostaining. We developed an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay using immobilized glycolipids, demonstrating high sensitivity and clear-cut specificity of the assay. The digoxigenin-labeled B subunit was also readily applicable to the detection of cell surface carbohydrate ligands by flowcytometry.     

单克隆抗体及其抗感染作用的研究进展

骨髓瘤细胞和单个B细胞可融合形成杂交瘤细胞,这种细胞分离并克隆后可产生针对单一表位,且结构和功能相同的抗体,即单克隆抗体(monoclonal antibody, mAb)。单克隆抗体发展历程经历了四个阶段。其制备技术也在不断革新与发展。目前单克隆抗体技术发展日益成熟,在疾病治疗与诊断中发挥着关键的作用。单克隆抗体与天然抗体不同,具有效价高、特异性强、交叉反应少、可大量制备,靶向性高等特点。mAb可用于诊断及治疗感染性疾病、自身免疫病以及癌症等。对mAb的发展历程及mAb在抗感染性疾病中的应用进行简要阐述。     

Structure and expression of Fc gamma receptors on mouse suppressor T cell hybridomas

Antigen-specific and idiotype-specific mouse suppressor T cell hybridomas were analyzed for the presence and specificity of Fc gamma receptors (Fc gamma R) by EA rosetting and by flow microfluorometry with the use of monoclonal antibodies. We found that four hybridomas expressed Fc gamma R specific for IgG1 and IgG2b, one of which became Fc gamma R- during prolonged culture. Four other hybridomas and the fusion parent, BW5147, consistently lacked Fc gamma R. The 125I-labeled Fc gamma R were isolated from surface radioiodinated hybridoma cells solubilized with 1% Nonidet P-40, were purified by using single or repetitive chromatography on mouse IgG-Sepharose columns, and were analyzed by SDS-PAGE. An 125I-labeled 56,000 to 61,000 Mr macromolecule was isolated from each of the Fc gamma R+ hybridomas, but from none of the Fc gamma R- hybridomas nor from BW5147 cells. This macromolecule rebound to insolubilized mouse IgG1, IgG2b, and human Fc fragments, but not to insolubilized mouse IgG2a, IgG3, or IgA or human F(ab')2 fragments, consistent with the specificity observed for Fc gamma R on intact hybridoma cells. The mouse suppressor T cell Fc gamma R differs in size and specificity from mouse B cell Fc gamma R. A 70,000 Mr protein expressed on all hybridomas and on BW5147 cells was radiolabeled and, despite preclearing with ovalbumin-Sepharose, bound to the mouse IgG-Sepharose columns, presumably due to mouse antibodies to gp-70. This macromolecule was completely and specifically removed by using goat antiserum to gp-70.     

Suppression of innate and adaptive B cell activation pathways by antibody coengagement of FcγRIIb and CD19

The Fc receptor (FcγRIIb) inhibits B cell responses when coengaged with B cell receptor (BCR), and has become a target for new autoimmune disease therapeutics. For example, BCR and FcγRIIb coengagement via the Fc-engineered anti-CD19 XmAb5871 suppresses humoral immune responses. We now assess effects of XmAb5871 on other activation pathways, including the pathogen-associated molecular pattern receptor, TLR9. Since TLR9 signaling is implicated in autoimmune diseases, we asked if XmAb5871 could inhibit TLR9 costimulation. We show that XmAb5871 decreases ERK and AKT activation, cell proliferation, cytokine, and IgG production induced by BCR and/or TLR9 signals. XmAb5871 also inhibited differentiation of citrullinated peptide-specific plasma cells from rheumatoid arthritis patients. XmAb5871 may therefore have potential to suppress pathogenic B cells in autoimmune diseases.     

Specific targeting to murine myeloma cells of Cyt1Aa toxin from Bacillus thuringiensis subspecies israelensis

Multiple myeloma is currently an incurable cancer of plasma B cells often characterized by overproduction of abnormally high quantities of a patient-specific, clonotypic immunoglobulin "M-protein." The M-protein is expressed on the cell membrane and secreted into the blood. We previously showed that ligand-toxin conjugates (LTC) incorporating the ribosome-inactivating Ricin-A toxin were very effective in specific cytolysis of the anti-ligand antibody-bearing target cells used as models for multiple myeloma. Here, we report on the incorporation of the membrane-disruptive Cyt1Aa toxin from Bacillus thuringiensis subsp. israelensis into LTCs targeted to murine myeloma cells. Proteolytically activated Cyt1Aa was conjugated chemically or genetically through either its amino or carboxyl termini to the major peptidic epitope VHFFKNIVTPRTP (p87-99) of the myelin basic protein. The recombinant fusion-encoding genes were cloned and expressed in acrystalliferous B. thuringiensis subsp. israelensis through the shuttle vector pHT315. Both chemically conjugated and genetically fused LTCs were toxic to anti-myelin basic protein-expressing murine hybridoma cells, but the recombinant conjugates were more active. LTCs comprising the Cyt1Aa toxin might be useful anticancer agents. As a membrane-acting toxin, Cyt1Aa is not likely to induce development of resistant cell lines.     

Bifunctional Toxin DARP-LoPE Based on the Her2-Specific Innovative Module of a Non-Immunoglobulin Scaffold as a Promising Agent for Theranostics

We have generated and characterized HER2-specific targeted toxin based on the low-immunogenic variant of Pseudomonas exotoxin A (LoPE), in which most of the human immunodominant B-cell epitopes have been inactivated. Nonimmunoglobulin DARPin-based HER2-specific protein was used as a targeting module for toxin delivery to the cellular target. Using confocal microscopy, it has been found that both domains in this hybrid toxin retained their functionality, i.e., the specific interaction with HER2 receptor, as well as the internalization and effective transport to ER typical of the wild-type Pseudomonas exotoxin A. The HER2-dependent cytotoxic effect correlated with receptor expression level at the cell surface, as shown in vitro using cell lines with different levels of HER2 expression. Due to the very high selective cytotoxicity against HER2-positive human tumor cells, as well as expected low immunogenicity, we believe that this new targeted toxin may be promising for future in vivo studies as a therapeutic agent for HER2-positive tumors.     

Characterization of a monoclonal antibody directed against the murine B lymphocyte receptor for IgE

A rat hybridoma producing a high-affinity IgG2a monoclonal antibody (B3B4) directed against against the murine lymphocyte IgE receptor (Fc epsilon R) was established by using purified Fc epsilon R from Fc epsilon R+ murine hybridoma B cells as immunogen. The monoclonal and polyclonal anti-Fc epsilon R inhibited the binding of IgE to the murine lymphocyte Fc epsilon R and were also used to isolate the Fc epsilon R. B3B4 specifically recognized only the 49-Kd Fc epsilon R on murine B lymphocyte as determined by immunoprecipitation and SDS-PAGE analysis. In addition to its reaction with intact Fc epsilon R, B3B4 also recognized Fc epsilon R fragments that were present in the culture media of Fc epsilon R+ hybridoma cells. The predominant fragments isolated were 38 Kd and 28 Kd by SDS-PAGE analysis. When tested for reactivity with other cell types, B3B4 was highly specific for murine B lineage cells in that it did not significantly react with Fc epsilon R on macrophages and T cells and, in addition, did not react with the high affinity mast cell Fc epsilon R. B3B4 completely blocked IgE rosetting, and a reciprocal inhibition of binding was seen in a dose-dependent fashion between IgE and B3B4, indicating a close proximity of the IgE and B3B4 binding sites. Saturation binding analysis indicated that the Fab' fragment of B3B4 bound to twice as many sites/cell as IgE, suggesting that there are two identical B3B4 determinants per 49-Kd Fc epsilon R or that the IgE binding site is formed by the association of at least two 49-Kd Fc epsilon R. However, unlike IgE, neither B3B4 nor F(ab')2-B3B4 nor Fab'-B3B4 were very effective in causing Fc epsilon R upregulation on murine hybridoma B cells; in fact, B3B4 prevented this upregulation when added in combination with IgE. These results suggest that a site-specific interaction provided only by IgE may be essential for ligand-specific upregulation. Both polyclonal and monoclonal antibodies will be useful in further studies concerning the functional relationship between the membrane Fc epsilon R and the soluble Fc epsilon R fragments.     

Translocation mediated by domain II of Pseudomonas exotoxin A: transport of barnase into the cytosol.

Pseudomonas exotoxin A (PE) is a protein toxin composed of three structural domains. Functional analysis of PE has revealed that domain I is the cell-binding domain and that domain III functions in ADP ribosylation. Domain II was originally designated as the translocation domain, mediating the transfer of domain III to the cytosol, because mutations in this domain result in toxin molecules with normal cell-binding and ADP-ribosylation activities but which are not cytotoxic. However, the results do not rule out the possibility that regions of PE outside of domain II also participate in the translocation process. To investigate this problem, we have now constructed a toxin in which domain III of PE is replaced with barnase, the extracellular ribonuclease of Bacillus amyloliquefaciens. This chimeric toxin, termed PE1-412-Bar, is cytotoxic to a murine fibroblast cell line and to a murine hybridoma resistant to the ADP-ribosylation activity of PE. A mutant form of PE1-412-Bar with an inactivating mutation in domain II at position 276 was significantly less toxic. Because the cytotoxic effect of PE1-412-Bar was due to the ribonuclease-activity of barnase molecules which had been translocated to the cytosol, we conclude that domain II of PE is not only essential but also probably sufficient to carry out the translocation process.     

Effect of B cell stimulatory factor-1 (interleukin 4) on Fc epsilon and Fc gamma receptor expression on murine B lymphocytes and B cell lines

Culture of murine splenic B cells with interleukin 4 (IL-4) caused the up-regulation of the lymphocyte Fc receptor for immunoglobulin E (IgE) (Fc epsilon R) over a similar dose range as required for Ia up-regulation. However, the expression level of the Fc receptor for immunoglobulin G (Fc gamma R) did not increase, rather IL-4 caused a slight but consistent decrease in the Fc gamma R level on the B cells. Fc epsilon R+ B hybridoma cells also responded to IL-4 by exhibiting increased Fc epsilon R expression; with the hybridoma cells Fc gamma R levels were unaffected. IL-4 caused an increase in the number of Fc epsilon R per cell and the highest levels of expression were obtained by having both IgE and IL-4 present in the culture. The specificity of the increase was demonstrated by blocking IL-4-mediated actions with monoclonal anti-IL-4 (11B11). Experiments following the incorporation of [35S]methionine into the Fc epsilon R demonstrated that IL-4 increased the rate of Fc epsilon R biosynthesis; this provides an explanation for the IL-4-induced increase in Fc epsilon R expression. IL-4, unlike IgE, had no effect on the rate of degradation of the Fc epsilon R. Interferon-gamma (IFN-gamma) totally abrogated IL-4-mediated Fc epsilon R up-regulation; at the same concentration of IFN-gamma Ia up-regulation is also suppressed, although not as effectively. IFN-gamma was shown to directly suppress Fc epsilon R synthesis, thereby explaining the inhibitory action on Fc epsilon R levels. Finally, it was shown that 11B11 inhibited the increased expression of Fc epsilon R on B cells obtained from mice during the early, but not the late, stages of Nippostrongylus brasiliensis infection. This latter finding suggests that the high Fc epsilon R levels seen early in parasite infections are dependent upon IL-4. The results overall provide further insight into the biologic activities of IL-4.     

抑制T细胞增殖的抗CD45单克隆抗体的建立

目的寻找能调节T细胞功能的相关分子,进行与T细胞介导的自身免疫性疾病相关的研究。方法从BALB/c小鼠骨髓中收集树突状细胞,免疫Wistar大鼠,进行细胞融合,建立杂交瘤细胞系。筛选得到很多株能调节T细胞功能的杂交瘤细胞系,对其中一株最能抑制T细胞增殖的杂交瘤细胞系进行了进一步的深入研究。结果显示其目标分子是CD45,同时增殖实验结果显示该抗体能显著抑制T细胞增殖反应。结论抗CD45单克隆抗体能有效抑制T细胞增殖,有望将本抗体用于T细胞介导的自身免疫性疾病的相关预防及治疗中。     

Constitutive expression of B7-1 on B cells uncovers autoimmunity toward the B cell compartment in the nonobese diabetic mouse

The NOD mouse is an invaluable model for the study of autoimmune diabetes. Furthermore, although less appreciated, NOD mice are susceptible to other autoimmune diseases that can be differentially manifested by altering the balance of T cell costimulatory pathways. In this study, we show that constitutively expressing B7-1 on B cells (NOD-B7-1B-transgenic mice) resulted in reduced insulitis and completely protected NOD mice from developing diabetes. Furthermore, B7-1 expression led to a dramatic reduction of the B cell compartment due to a selective deletion of follicular B cells in the spleen, whereas marginal zone B cells were largely unaffected. B cell depletion was dependent on B cell specificity, mediated by CD8(+) T cells, and occurred exclusively in the autoimmune-prone NOD background. Our results suggest that B cell deletion was a consequence of the specific activation of autoreactive T cells directed at peripheral self Ags presented by maturing B cells that expressed B7-1 costimulatory molecules. This study underscores the importance of B7 costimulatory molecules in controlling the amplitude and target of autoimmunity in genetically prone individuals and has important implications in the use of costimulatory pathway antagonists in the treatment of human autoimmune diseases.     

Fused Late Endocytic Compartments and Immunostimulatory Capacity of Dendritic–Tumor Cell Hybridomas

Late endocytic compartments, containing MHC class II molecules in antigen presenting cells, fuse to each other in order to deliver antigens to these molecules. We have shown previously that fusion of late endocytic compartments takes place also in hybridomas. Therefore, we investigate here whether the level of fused late endocytic compartments affects the immunostimulatory capacity of hybridomas obtained by the electrofusion of dendritic and tumor cells. The level of fused late endocytic compartments in a single hybridoma cell was assessed and samples of electrofused cells were then cocultured with autologous T cells, resulting in the priming of naïve T cells. To test the immunostimulatory capacity of hybridoma cells, T-cell-induced cytotoxicity of tumor cells was assayed. The results demonstrate that in vitro cytotoxic T cell responses are enhanced if a higher percentage of fused late endocytic compartments is present in the cell population of electrofused hybridoma cells.     

Establishment of an antigen-specific B cell clone by somatic hybridization

Splenic B cells of A/J mice immunized with 2,4,6-trinitrophenyl (TNP)-lipopolysaccharide were fused with 2.52M, a mutant of a B cell line, in the presence of polyethylene glycol and dimethyl sulfoxide. TP67.21, a subclone of a resulting hybridoma, expresses IAk, IEk, IgM, B220, P50, and receptors for C3 fragment of complement, the Fc portion of IgG, and interleukin 2 receptor on the cell membrane; it also possesses receptor molecules for TNP on its surface, derived from TNP-reactive B cells of A/J mice primed with TNP-lipopolysaccharide used for somatic hybridization, by a rosette-forming assay with TNP-sheep erythrocytes. In contrast, parental 2.52M lacks IAk and IEk on the cell membrane and does not bind to TNP-sheep erythrocytes under the same conditions. Thus, it is likely that TP67.21 is an antigen-specific B cell clone directed against TNP. The antigen binding of cells was markedly inhibited by the specific free hapten or anti-IgM antibodies. Interestingly, TP67.21 was induced to generate a significant amount of anti-TNP antibody when treated with TNP conjugates including T cell-independent and -dependent antigens, such as TNP-lipopolysaccharide, TNP-bovine serum albumin, TNP-ovalbumin, and TNP-keyhole limpet hemocyanine in the absence of T cell help, as well as polyclonal activators; this was followed by a marked decrease in the expression of B cell surface markers on the cell membrane. This suggests that the cross-linkage of receptor molecules on TP67.21 by antigen may directly provide a differentiative signal for maturation to a lineage of B cells, and consequently results in the generation of antigen-specific antibodies without T cell involvement.     

In vivo and in vitro regulation of IgE production in murine hybridomas

Normal BALB/c mice injected i.p. with the IgE-secreting hybridomas B53 (epsilon, kappa anti-DNP), SE1.3 (epsilon, kappa, anti-arsonate) or A3B1 (epsilon, kappa, anti-TNP) were monitored for serum IgE concentrations and frequencies of splenic T lymphocytes with surface membrane receptors for the Fc portion of IgE (Fc epsilon R+ T lymphocytes). Mice with B53 or SE1.3 hybridomas initially developed high concentrations of IgE and CD8+ Fc epsilon R+ T lymphocytes, followed by a progressive decline in both serum IgE and expression of cytoplasmic epsilon-chains in the hybridoma cells. Serum IgE concentrations in mice with A3B1 hybridomas progressively increased without development of Fc epsilon R+ T lymphocytes nor a subsequent decline in IgE or change in cytoplasmic epsilon-chain expression in the A3B1 cells. An in vitro system in which the IgE-secreting hybridoma cells were cocultured with spleen cells harvested from mice with established B53 tumors was used to investigate the mechanisms involved in the inhibition of IgE production by the hybridoma cells. The results of these studies indicate that: 1) the induction/upregulation of Fc epsilon R on CD8+ T lymphocytes in vivo requires factors in addition to high serum IgE concentrations; 2) in addition to CD8+ Fc epsilon R+ T lymphocytes and monocytes, another, as yet unidentified, splenic cell component appears to contribute to the process by which epsilon-chain expression in IgE-secreting hybridoma cells is suppressed, and 3) a hybridoma (A3B1) that fails to induce CD8+, Fc epsilon R+ T lymphocytes in vivo and is not inhibited in IgE expression in vivo, nonetheless is inhibited in IgE expression in vitro when cocultured with spleen cells from mice with B53 tumors.     

IL-4 (B cell stimulatory factor 1) overcomes Fc gamma receptor-mediated inhibition of mouse B lymphocyte proliferation without affecting inhibition of c-myc mRNA induction

Mouse B cells are stimulated to proliferate by Fab'2 fragments of rabbit anti-mouse Ig antibodies. Proliferation is inhibited, however, in the presence of IgG anti-mouse Ig. We have previously shown that this inhibition is mediated by binding of the IgG anti-Ig to receptors for Fc gamma R on B cells. This report describes conditions under which IgG anti-mu or anti-delta will induce proliferation despite Fc gamma R engagement. Culture supernatants of Con A-stimulated, Il-4-secreting Th cell lines, but not of Il-2-secreting Th cell lines, will co-stimulate with IgG anti-Ig to induce small B cells to incorporate [3H]TdR. This co-mitogenic activity is inhibitable by anti-IL-4 antibodies and can also be induced by Il-4 affinity purified from the T cell supernatants or by supernatants containing rIl-4. B cells precultured with Il-4 for 18 h, while still expressing normal levels of Fc gamma R, also proliferate to IgG anti-Ig. We have previously shown that Fc gamma R-mIg cross-linking will inhibit mIg-dependent increases in c-myc mRNA levels. We investigated whether Il-4 allows B cells to respond to IgG anti-Ig by elevating c-myc. The data show that Il-4 has little effect on c-myc mRNA levels in either IgG or Fab'2 anti-Ig-containing cultures.     

Suppression of innate and adaptive B cell activation pathways by antibody coengagement of FcγRIIb and CD19

The Fc receptor (FcγRIIb) inhibits B cell responses when coengaged with B cell receptor (BCR), and has become a target for new autoimmune disease therapeutics. For example, BCR and FcγRIIb coengagement via the Fc-engineered anti-CD19 XmAb5871 suppresses humoral immune responses. We now assess effects of XmAb5871 on other activation pathways, including the pathogen-associated molecular pattern receptor, TLR9. Since TLR9 signaling is implicated in autoimmune diseases, we asked if XmAb5871 could inhibit TLR9 costimulation. We show that XmAb5871 decreases ERK and AKT activation, cell proliferation, cytokine, and IgG production induced by BCR and/or TLR9 signals. XmAb5871 also inhibited differentiation of citrullinated peptide-specific plasma cells from rheumatoid arthritis patients. XmAb5871 may therefore have potential to suppress pathogenic B cells in autoimmune diseases.     

The murine lymphocyte receptor for IgE. IV. The mechanism of ligand-specific receptor upregulation on B cells

Rodent B cells respond to culture with IgE by increasing their IgE-specific Fc receptors (Fc epsilon R). The mechanism of this upregulation was characterized on Fc epsilon R+ murine B cell hybridoma lines. Measurements of [35S]methionine incorporated into the Fc epsilon R over time indicated that IgE did not appreciably increase the rate of Fc epsilon R synthesis. In contrast analysis of Fc epsilon R decay from surface radioiodinated B hybridoma cells demonstrated that IgE acted to slow the rate of Fc epsilon R degradation. Very little endocytosis of monomeric IgE was seen; this, combined with the observation that lysomotropic agents failed to inhibit Fc epsilon R degradation suggested that decay occurs at the cell surface. A soluble receptor immunoassay was developed, using monoclonal anti-Fc epsilon R, and this assay demonstrated that cell-bound IgE inhibited the release into the culture media of soluble immunoreactive Fc epsilon R. Examination of the soluble Fc epsilon R by SDS-PAGE after isolation with monoclonal anti-Fc epsilon R demonstrated that it was 10,000 m.w. smaller than the cell-associated Fc epsilon R. IgE affinity columns failed to bind the Fc epsilon R fragment, indicating that the ligand binding activity was largely lost. Thus this study demonstrated that IgE-dependent Fc epsilon R induction on B cells occurs because IgE upon binding to the B cell surface, inhibits the proteolytic cleavage and release of the Fc epsilon R into the surrounding medium, and it is this inhibition of degradation that causes the higher Fc epsilon R levels.