Inhibition of IgE production in B hybridomas by IgE class-specific suppressor factor from T hybridomas

The function of IgE class-specific suppressor factor (IgE-TsF) from T hybridomas was studied by employing IgE-producing B hybridomas. IgE-TsF was obtained from IgE class-specific T hybridomas, which had been established by the fusion of a phosphorylcholine-conjugated Mycobacterium-primed T cell population with the T lymphoma cell line BW5147. The absorption experiments showed that IgE-TsF from T hybridomas was composed of the binding site(s) for IgE and I region gene products as observed in conventional IgE-TsF. Incubation of IgE-producing B hybridomas with IgE-TsF for 1 hr at 37 degrees C resulted in the reduction of the number of IgE-secreting cells when assessed by a reverse plaque assay. The proportions of surface IgE-positive cells were concomitantly reduced. After 24 hr incubation with IgE-TsF, the number of cytoplasmic IgE-positive cells was reduced, showing that IgE synthesis was inhibited by IgE-TsF. Antigen-specific TsF from phosphorylcholine-specific T hybridomas did not show any inhibitory effect, and IgE-TsF did not block the antibody production of IgM-producing B hybridomas. Precapping of IgE receptors by anti-epsilon antibody or the simultaneous addition of soluble IgE with IgE-TsF abrogated the suppressive function, suggesting that IgE-TsF acted directly on B epsilon cells through binding with IgE receptors.     

Regulation of antibody response in different immunoglobulin classes. IV. Properties and functions of IgE class-specific" suppressor factor(s) released from DNP-mycobacterium-primed T cells.

IgE class-specific suppressor factors (IgE-TsF) released from DNP-Myc-primed T cells showed their suppressor effect in an antigen nonspecific manner, although DNP-specific stimulation was required for their induction. The suppressor activity of IgE-TsF was absorbed with the alloantiserum directed to the subregions between I-A and I-E of the H-2 complex. IgE-TsF from BALB/c mice did not show their suppressor effect on the IgE response of C57BL/6J and vice versa. The suppressor activity of IgE-TsF was removed with a DNP-OA-primed B lymphocyte population including an increased number of IgE-B cells, but not with T cells. Incubation of hapten-primed B cells with IgE-TsF for 3 hr at 37 degrees C selectively abolished the anti-hapten IgE antibody response in the adoptive transfer experiment, indicating that the target cells of IgE-TsF were IgE-B cells.     

IgE class-specific suppressor T cells and factors in humans

An in vitro experimental system for the induction of IgE production has been established with human peripheral blood lymphocytes (PBL). The stimulation of human PBL with PWM plus Cowan I induced IgM-, IgG-, and IgE- producing cells when assessed by reverse plaque assay. T cells, which had been isolated from patients with pulmonary tuberculosis and incubated with PPD plus IgE for 5 days, showed a suppressive effect on the polyclonal IgE response induced by PWM plus Cowan I. The direct addition of activated T cells, as well as the culture supernatant from activated T cells, abrogated the IgE response; the IgG response was not affected. The IgE-specific suppressive activity in the supernatant was specifically absorbed by an IgE column and could be eluted with acid buffer. The results demonstrated the presence of a human IgE binding factor(s), which showed its suppressive effect selectively in the IgE antibody response.     

FcεR and FcγR Expressed on Murine IgE-Specific Suppressor T Hybridomas

The expression of Fc receptors specific for IgE (Fc_εR) and those for IgG (Fc_γR) on murine IgE-specific suppressor T hybridomas was studied. While parental T lymphoma cells (BW5147) failed to bind IgE-sensitized red cells (mIgE-TNP-ORBC), the majority of T hybridoma cell lines having IgE-specific suppressor activity contained rosette-forming cells (RFC) binding mIgE-TNP-ORBC (2 to 13% of the total cells). The expression of Fc_εR was poor (2% or less) in T hybridoma cell lines without IgE-specific suppressor activity. In addition to Fc_εR, IgE-specific suppressor T hybridomas also expressed Fc_γR as detected by ORBC sensitized with IgG antibodies (EA_oxγ). β-Interferon (IFN) (1,000 to 2,000 U/ml) augmented the expression of Fc_γR, but not of Fc_εR. On the other hand, preculture of the cells with 40 μg of mIgE per ml enhanced the expression of Fc_εR without augmenting Fc_γR expression. IgE-specific suppressor activity in the culture supernatants of T hybridomas was also augmented by preculture with mIgE. However, a dissociation between the expression of Fc_εR and IgE-suppressor activity was observed. In some of the subclones, mIgE augmented the suppressor activity without inducing the expression of Fc_εR. Furthermore, when treated with 5 μg of melittin, a phospholipase A₂ activator, per ml, IgE-specific suppressor activity of the hybridomas was completely abrogated, whereas IgE-induced expression of Fc_εR was enhanced by melittin.     

Cytotoxic T-cells specific for natural IgE peptides downregulate IgE production

Immunoglobulin E (IgE) plays a central role in IgE-mediated immediate type hypersensitivity. Since production of IgE depends on Th2, efforts to block IgE production and control allergic reactions include tolerization of Th2 or deviating development of Th2. We hypothesized that cytotoxic T lymphocytes targeting natural IgE peptides/MHC I complexes can eliminate IgE-producing cells and inhibit centrally IgE production. CTL to self-IgE peptides were elicited in mice immunized with nonameric p109-117, p113-121, and p103-141 (CHepsilon2 domain), which encompass both peptides with an OVA helper peptide (OVAp restricted for H-2d/b) in liposomes and presented by dendritic cells (DC). CTL from BALB/c lysed IgE peptide-pulsed P815 target as well as IgE-producing 26.82 hybridomas (H-2d). Natural tolerance to self-IgE peptides was tested in IgE sufficient (IgE +/+) as well as IgE-deficient (IgE -/-) 129/SvEv mice (H-2b). Comparable magnitude of CTL responses was observed in both strains immunized with p109-117 or p103-141 concomitantly with CD4 T-cell costimulation. CTL from 129/SvEv lysed not only IgE peptide-pulsed EL-4 but also IgE-producing B4 hybridomas (H-2b). This observation strongly suggests a correspondence of epitope of immunogenic peptide to that of physiologically processed IgE peptides presented on IgE-producing cells. Moreover, CTL were generated in 129/SvEv, immunized with the recombinant antigenized antibody in liposomes encompassing p107-123, p109-117, and p113-121 expressed in CDR3 of VH62/human gamma1. Polyclonal IgE production was inhibited by coincubation with MHC I-restricted CTL in vitro. Furthermore, antigen-specific IgE responses were inhibited in mice, immunized with p109-117 and p103-141 while IgG responses were not suppressed. Since IgE peptide sequences of CHepsilon2 are ubiquitous to all murine IgE heavy chain, peptides made as such can serve as a universal IgE vaccine to prevent allergy for a myriad of allergens in rodents. This observation suggests that similar human IgE peptides should be identified and employed to downregulate human IgE production.     

The Extracellular Domains of IgG1 and T Cell-Derived IL-4/IL-13 Are Critical for the Polyclonal Memory IgE Response In Vivo

IgE-mediated activation of mast cells and basophils contributes to protective immunity against helminths but also causes allergic responses. The development and persistence of IgE responses are poorly understood, which is in part due to the low number of IgE-producing cells. Here, we used next generation sequencing to uncover a striking overlap between the IgE and IgG1 repertoires in helminth-infected or OVA/alum-immunized wild-type BALB/c mice. The memory IgE response after secondary infection induced a strong increase of IgE⁺ plasma cells in spleen and lymph nodes. In contrast, germinal center B cells did not increase during secondary infection. Unexpectedly, the memory IgE response was lost in mice where the extracellular part of IgG1 had been replaced with IgE sequences. Adoptive transfer studies revealed that IgG1⁺ B cells were required and sufficient to constitute the memory IgE response in recipient mice. T cell-derived IL-4/IL-13 was required for the memory IgE response but not for expansion of B cells from memory mice. Together, our results reveal a close relationship between the IgE and IgG1 repertoires in vivo and demonstrate that the memory IgE response is mainly conserved at the level of memory IgG1⁺ B cells. Therefore, targeting the generation and survival of allergen-specific IgG1⁺ B cells could lead to development of new therapeutic strategies to treat chronic allergic disorders.     

Immunosuppressive effects of glycosylation inhibiting factor on the IgE and IgG antibody response

Glycosylation inhibiting factor (GIF) was purified from culture filtrates of a T cell hybridoma, 23A4, by affinity chromatography on anti-lipomodulin Sepharose. The factor exhibited phospholipase inhibitory activity upon dephosphorylation. Immunization of BDF1 mice with aluminum hydroxide gel (alum)-absorbed dinitrophenyl derivatives of ovalbumin (DNP-OA) resulted in persistent IgE and IgG antibody formation. However, repeated injections of the affinity-purified GIF into the DNP-OA-primed mice beginning on the day of priming prevented the primary anti-hapten antibody responses of both the IgE and the IgG1 isotypes. Treatment with GIF also diminished on-going IgE antibody formation in the DNP-OA-primed mice. The treatment changed the nature of IgE-binding factors formed by BDF1 spleen cells. Incubation of spleen cells from OA + alum-primed mice with OA resulted in the formation of IgE-potentiating factor, whereas spleen cells of OA-primed, GIF-treated mice formed IgE-suppressive factor upon antigenic stimulation. It was also found that Lyt-2+ T cells in the OA-primed, GIF-treated mouse spleen cells released GIF, which had affinity for OA and bore I-Jb determinant(s). Transfer of a Lyt-1+ cell-depleted fraction of the OA-primed, GIF-treated mouse spleen cells into naive syngeneic animals resulted in suppression of the primary anti-DNP IgE antibody response of the recipients to alum-absorbed DNP-OA, but failed to affect the anti-DNP antibody response to DNP-keyhole limpet hemocyanin. The results indicate that GIF treatment during the primary response to OA facilitated the generation of antigen-specific suppressor T cells.     

Immunologic and physicochemical properties of enhancing soluble factors for IgG and IgE antibody responses.

Rabbits were immunized with dinitrophenyl-coupled Ascaris antigen (DNP-Asc) or ragweed antigen (DNP-Rag) included in aluminum hydroxide gel and their mesenteric lymph node cells were cultured for 24 hr in vitro in the presence of free homologous carrier. The cell-free supernatant thus obtained enhanced both IgG and IgE antihapten antibody responses of DNP-primed cells to DNP-heterologous carrier conjugate (DNP-keyhole limpet hemocyanin). Since the cell-free supernatant obtained from Rag-specific cells enhanced antibody response of hapten-primed cells raised by immunization with DNP-Asc, no carrier specificity was involved in the enhancement. It was found that treatment of primed cells with 10-5 M pactamycin suppressed the formation of the enhancing soluble factor, whereas the factor was readily formed in the presence of 2 mug/mol of cytosine arabinoside in the culture. The results indicated that cell proliferation was not required but de novo synthesis of protein was essential for the formation of soluble factor(s). The enhancing factor was not absorbed by either carrier-coated or anti-carrier antibody-coated immunosorbent. It was also found that the enhancing factor was formed by incubating primed cells with carrier-coated Sepharose. The cell-free supernatant containing no free carrier enhanced both IgG and IgE anti-hapten antibody responses. The activities of the cell-free supernatant to enhance IgG and IgE antibody responses were not absorbed by anti-Fab, anti-gamma-or anti-mu-chain antibody immunosorbent, indicating that the nonspecific enhancing factor did not possess immunoglobulin determinant. The cell-free supernatant was fractionated by sucrose density gradient ultracentrifugation and by gel filtration with three radiolabeled proteins, i.e., IgG, ovalbumin, and cytochrome C as markers. Enhancing activity for IgG antibody response was recovered in a fraction between ovalbumin peak (40,000 m.w.) and cytochrome C peak (20,000 m.w.). The activity for IgE antibody response was recovered in a fraction containing IgG marker (150,000 m.w.). By block electrophoresis, both activities were detected in beta globulin fraction. The results suggested that different T cell factors are involved in the IgG and IgE antibody responses.     

Reaginic antibody formation in the mouse. X. Possible role of suppressor T cells in transient IgE antibody responses.

The kinetics of IgE antibody response to alum-absorbed dinitrophenyl derivatives of ovalbumin (DNP-OA) was dependent on the dose of immunogen. A persistent IgE antibody response was obtained when high responder BDF1 mice were immunized with a minimum (0.05 microgram) dose. An increase of the immunogen to 10 microgram depressed IgE antibody responses but enhanced IgG antibody responses of both hapten and carrier specificities. Determination of T helper cell activity and B memory cells after immunization with different doses of antigen indicated that minimum immunogen was favorable for developing helper activity, whereas 1 to 10 microgram immunogen were more favorable than a 0.05-microgram dose for developing both IgE and IgG B memory cells. Nevertheless, neither helper T cells nor B memory cells in the spleen explains a transient IgE antibody response to a high (10 microgram) dose of DNP-OA. Evidence was obtained that immunization with 10 microgram OA induced generation of antigen-specific suppressor T cells, which were not detectable after immunization with 0.05 microgram OA. Transfer of suppressor T cells to DNP-OA-primed mice depressed both anti-hapten and anti-carrier IgE antibody responses. The results suggested strongly that suppressor T cells are involved in a transient IgE antibody response to a high-dose immunogen.     

CD40 stimulation provides an IFN-gamma-independent and IL-4-dependent differentiation signal directly to human B cells for IgE production.

IgE induction from human cells has generally been considered to be T cell dependent and to require at least two signals: IL-4 stimulation and T cell/B cell interaction. In the present study we report a human system of T cell-independent IgE production from highly purified B cells. When human cells were co-stimulated with a mAb directed against CD40 (mAb G28-5), there was induction of IgE secretion from purified blood and tonsil B cells as well as unfractionated lymphocytes. Anti-CD40 alone failed to induce IgE from blood mononuclear cells or purified B cells. The effect of the combination of anti-CD40 and IL-4 on IgE production was very IgE isotype specific as IgG, IgM, and IgA were not increased. Furthermore, anti-CD40 with IL-5 or PWM did not co-stimulate IgG, IgM, or IgA and in fact strongly inhibited PWM-stimulated IgG, IgM and IgA production from blood or tonsil cells. IgE synthesis induced by anti-CD40 plus IL-4 was IFN-gamma independent as is the in vivo production of IgE in humans; the doses of IFN-gamma that profoundly suppressed IgG synthesis induced by IL-4, or IL-4 plus IL-6, had no inhibitory effect on anti-CD40-induced IgE production. Anti-CD23 and anti-IL-6 also could not block anti-CD40 plus IL-4-induced IgE production, but anti-IL-4 totally blocked their effect. IgE production via CD40 was not due to IL-5, IL-6 or nerve growth factor as none of these synergized with IL-4 to induce IgE synthesis by purified B cells. Finally, we observed that CD40 stimulation alone could enhance IgE production from in vivo-driven IgE-producing cells from patients with very high IgE levels; cells that did not increase IgE production in response to IL-4. Taken together, our data suggest that the signals delivered for IgE production by IL-4 and CD40 stimulation may mimic the pathway for IgE production seen in vivo in human allergic disease.     

IgE antibody-mediated cutaneous basophil hypersensitivity reactions in guinea pigs

Cutaneous basophil hypersensitivity (CBH) reactions are a heterogeneous group of delayed time course basophil-rich immune responses that can be mediated in the guinea pig by T cells, B cells, or IgG1 antibody. This study examined whether guinea pig IgE antibody could also mediate CBH reactions. IgE antibody to picryl or oxazolone determinants was induced by immunizing Hartley strain guinea pigs pretreated with cyclophosphamide. Hyperimmune serum from these animals was passed through a heavy chain-specific anti-IgG1 affinity column. The presence of IgE anti-hapten antibody in the filtrate fraction was verified by passive cutaneous anaphylaxis (PCA) testing with a 7-day period of local passive sensitization and by the heat lability (56 degrees C, 4 hr) of PCA activity. This IgE-rich fraction and the IgG1 fraction eluted from the column with base (0.2 M Na2CO3, pH 11.3) were transferred i.v. to separate groups of normal guinea pigs. Both fractions mediated delayed time course reactions that contained basophils. Macroscopic and microscopic reactions mediated by the IgE-rich fraction were abolished with heat (56 degrees C, 4 hr). Thus, two antigen-specific factors in guinea pig serum can mediate delayed time course basophil-containing reactions: IgG1 and IgE antibodies. IgE-mediated CBH reactions are similar to the late-phase reaction that follows IgE-dependent wheal-and-flare reactions in humans. The finding that guinea pig IgE can mediate a late reaction that contains basophils makes this a possible model for the human late-phase response, and suggests that some forms of CBH may play a role in human allergic disease.     

Induction of IgE-secreting cells and IgE isotype-specific suppressor T cells in the respiratory lymph nodes of rats in response to antigen inhalation

Repeated exposure of high-IgE-responder Brown Norway (BN) rats to an aerosol of ovalbumin (OVA) once weekly triggered progressively increasing levels of OVA-specific IgG in serum. In contrast, responses in the IgE class were transient, declining from peak titers during the third week to background levels by Week 5, despite continuing aerosol exposure. Subsequent parenteral challenge of these animals revealed a state of antigen- and IgE isotype-specific tolerance. Adoptive transfer of splenocytes or pooled respiratory tract lymph node (RTLN) cells from aerosol-exposed animals to naive rats abrogated subsequent OVA-specific primary IgE responses in the recipients, but did not affect specific IgG responses, and kinetic studies indicated that these suppressor cells arose first in the RTLN. Transfer studies employing individual lymph node groups which constituted the RTLN pool pinpointed the superficial cervical nodes, which drain the uppermost portion of the respiratory tract, as the major source of suppressor cells. Fractionation of cell populations before adoptive transfer employing monoclonal antibodies directed against T-cell markers, defined a population of suppressor cells generated by aerosol exposure which expressed both the W3/13 (pan T-cell) and OX8 (cytotoxic/suppressor T-cell) antigens, but which was negative for the W3/25 (helper T-cell) marker. Analysis of the IgE and IgG responses induced by OVA inhalation was performed employing the ELISA plaque technique, recently developed in this laboratory. These studies revealed the parathymic and posterior mediastinal nodes draining the lower lung, as the major sites of specific IgE and IgG production; smaller numbers of OVA-specific IgG-secreting cells (but none secreting specific IgE) were detected in the nodes draining the upper respiratory tract, while antibody secretion outside the respiratory tract was restricted to comparatively few cells in the spleen. The ELISA plaque assay was also employed to enumerate total numbers of cells secreting the IgE isotype in aerosol-exposed and control rats, employing samples from 10 different lymphoid organs. Approximately 50% of the IgE-secreting cells in these animals were localized in RTLN, as opposed to 25% in gut-associated lymphoid tissues. These data are discussed in relation to the pivotal role of respiratory-tract associated lymphoid tissues in regulation of IgE responses to aeroallergens.     

Construction of antigen-specific suppressor T cell hybridomas from spleen cells of mice primed for the persistent IgE antibody formation

Attempts were made to generate Ag-specific suppressor T cells from Ag-primed spleen cells by using glycosylation inhibiting factor (GIF). BDF1 mice were primed with alum-absorbed OVA and their spleen cells were stimulated with OVA. Ag-activated T cells were then propagated in IL-2-containing conditioned medium. Incubation of the T cells with OVA-pulsed syngeneic macrophages resulted in the formation of IgE-potentiating factor and glycosylation-enhancing factor that has affinity for OVA, i.e., OVA-specific glycosylation-enhancing factor. However, if the same Ag-activated splenic T cells were propagated in the IL-2-containing medium in the presence of GIF T cells obtained in the cultures formed IgE-suppressive factors and OVA-specific GIF on antigenic stimulation. Thus we constructed T cell hybridomas from the Ag-activated T cells propagated by IL-2 in the presence of GIF. A representative hybridoma, 71B4, formed OVA-specific GIF on incubation with OVA-pulsed macrophages of BDF1 mice or C57B1/6 mice. However, if the same hybridoma cells were incubated with OVA alone or with OVA-pulsed macrophages of H-2k or H-2d strains, they produced GIF that had no affinity for OVA. The OVA-specific GIF bound to OVA-Sepharose but did not bind to BSA-Sepharose or KLH Sepharose. Intravenous injections of the OVA-specific GIF from the hybridoma suppressed the IgE and IgG1 anti-DNP antibody response of BDF1 mice to DNP-OVA, but failed to suppress the anti-hapten antibody responses of the strain to DNP-keyhole limpet hemocyanin, indicating that the factors suppressed the antibody response in a carrier-specific manner. However, the same OVA-specific GIF failed to suppress the anti-hapten antibody response of DBA/1 mice to DNP-OVA, suggesting that the immunosuppressive effects of the factors is MHC restricted.     

Interaction of antigen-specific T cell factors with unique "receptors" on the surface of mast cells: demonstration in vitro by an indirect rosetting technique

Picryl (trinitrophenyl) chloride (PCL) contact sensitization of mice induces T cells that release an antigen-binding T cell factor (PCLF) that plays an important role in the initiation of contact sensitivity responses, in part via activation of mast cells. The current study employs an in vitro indirect rosette assay to demonstrate that PCLF can interact with the mast cell surface. Sheep red blood cells (SRBC) were hapten conjugated with trinitrophenyl (TNP), dinitrophenyl (DNP), or oxazolone (OX). When TNP-conjugated SRBC were coated with PCLF, monoclonal anti-DNP IgE, or anti-DNP IgG1, they produced 40 to 50% rosettes with purified normal mouse peritoneal mast cells. Analogous antigen-binding factors, from lymphoid cells of OX and dinitrofluorobenzene contact-sensitized mice, gave similar mast cell rosetting levels with OX-SRBC and DNP-SRBC, respectively. PCLF demonstrated a high degree of hapten specificity in that it formed rosettes with TNP-SRBC but not with DNP-SRBC, unlike IgE and IgG1, or DNPF, which formed rosettes with either SRBC type. Similarly, soluble TNP-BSA could inhibit PCLF rosette-forming capacity, but soluble DNP-BSA could not. In addition to mouse mast cells, PCLF formed rosettes with rat basophil leukemia cells, mouse peritoneal exudate macrophages, mouse alveolar macrophages, and J 774 cultured mouse macrophages; it did not form rosettes with rat mast cells, rat alveolar macrophages, or mouse spleen cells. Thus, PCLF-formed rosettes were antigen specific, relatively species specific, and mast cell/macrophage specific. PCLF-mediated rosette-forming activity could be detected in the presence of nanogram quantities of PCLF. More than 10 times greater IgE was needed to produce IgE-mediated rosettes. Reduction and alkylation eliminated the rosetting activity of IgE, but the rosetting activity of PCLF was not affected. PCLF, but not IgE rosette-forming activity, could be removed by and eluted from affinity columns linked with a monoclonal antibody specific for T cell-derived antigen-binding factors, whereas PCLF rosetting activity was not retained by an anti-immunoglobulin affinity column. Preincubation of mast cells with rat myeloma IgE or mouse monoclonal IgE of various specificities blocked IgE rosettes but not PCLF-induced rosettes. Other immunoglobulin isotypes likewise did not block PCLF rosettes. However, PCLF rosettes could be blocked by preincubation of mast cells with OX factor (OXF),and OXF-mediated rosettes could be blocked similarly by PCLF. These results suggest that the antigen-binding T cell factor PCLF interacts with a unique receptor on the surface of mouse mast cells.     

Reaginic antibody formation in the mouse. VII. Induction of suppressor T cells for IgE and IgG antibody responses.

Intravenous injections of urea-denatured ovalbumin (UD-OA) into OA-primed high responder mice suppressed the antibody response not only to the priming antigen but also to subsequent immunization with dinitrophenyl derivatives of OA (DNP-OA). The transfer of normal spleen cells or OA-primed spleen cells into UD-OA-treated animals did not restore the capacity of responding to DNP-OA to form anti-DNP IgE and IgG antibodies. The transfer of splenic T cell fraction from the UD-OA-treated animals into normal syngeneic mice diminished both IgE and IgG antibody responses of the recipients to DNP-OA. The B cell-rich fraction from the same donors failed to affect the anti-hapten antibody response and enhanced anti-cancer (OA) IgG antibody response of the recipients. It was also found that the transfer of T cell-rich fraction of OA-primed spleen cells failed to suppress antibody response of the recipients to DNP-OA. The results indicated that spleen cells of UD-OA-treated mice contained suppressor T cells which are distinct from helper cells. Suppressive activity of T cells in the UD-OA treated animals was specific for OA. The transfer of the T cell-rich fraction failed to suppress anti-DNP antibody response of the recipients to DNP-KLH.     

B cell activator. Effects on B cell expression of CD23, proliferation, and antibody secretion.

The studies herein describe a B cell hybridoma-derived, low m.w. (less than 1000 Da), hydrophilic mediator denoted B cell activator (BCA). BCA stimulates B cell expression of IgE-specific FcR (Fc epsilon RII or CD23) in a manner similar to IL-4. However, BCA can be readily distinguished from IL-4 because it does not 1) enhance B cell Ia expression; 2) bind 11B11 anti-IL-4 mAb; or 3) elicit superinduction of Fc epsilon RII expression or IgE production in cultures of LPS-activated B cells. Moreover, BCA is considerably more mitogenic than IL-4 for LPS-activated B cells and, in contrast to IL-4, lacks mitogenicity for anti-mu-activated B cells. BCA can enhance IgG2b and IgG3 production by LPS-activated B cells, responses that are suppressed by IL-4. BCA alone did not stimulate IgE and IgG1 production by LPS-activated B cells, but exerted synergistic activity when combined with IL-4 in stimulating secretion of these antibody isotypes. Finally, secondary Ag-driven IgG1, IgE, and IgA antibody responses can be stimulated by BCA in vitro. Thus, BCA appears to be a novel mediator with broad B cell activation properties.     

Human lung macrophage-derived histamine-releasing activity is due to IgE-dependent factors

Human lung macrophages obtained from surgical specimens spontaneously secreted a factor(s) (which we term macrophage factor) during 24-hr culture that induced calcium-dependent histamine release from human basophils and lung mast cells. Macrophage factor induced noncytotoxic histamine release from purified (85%) basophils. The kinetics of release were relatively slow and similar to that of anti-IgE. We performed a series of experiments to test the IgE dependence of macrophage factor-induced release. Preincubation of basophils with anti-IgE in calcium-free medium resulted in complete desensitization to macrophage factor-induced histamine release (i.e., when calcium and macrophage factor were added to the basophils, no histamine release occurred), and preincubation with macrophage factor in calcium-free medium resulted in partial desensitization to anti-IgE-induced histamine release. Pretreatment of basophils with pH 3.9 lactic acid buffer, which dissociates basophil IgE from its receptors, markedly reduced the capacity of basophils to release histamine in response to macrophage factor. Basophils that were incubated with IgE myeloma (but not with IgG) after lactic acid treatment partially or completely regained their capacity to release histamine in response to macrophage factor. Fluid-phase IgE myeloma (15 micrograms/ml) (but not IgG) inhibited basophil histamine release induced by two macrophage-derived supernatants, whereas IgE myeloma (200 micrograms/ml) did not inhibit release due to other supernatants. IgE-affinity columns removed the histamine-releasing activity of five macrophage-derived supernatants, and IgG-affinity columns had similar effects. However, neither affinity column removed the histamine-releasing activity of three other macrophage-derived supernatants. On Sephadex G-75 chromatography, nearly all of the histamine-releasing activity migrated as single peak with an apparent m.w. of 18,000. These results suggest that, although macrophage factor are heterogeneous, they are related, as they are a IgE-dependent factors that induce histamine release by interacting with cell surface IgE. These macrophage factors may be responsible for stimulation of basophil/mast cell mediator release in chronic allergic reactions.     

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.     

Serologic, biologic and western blot analysis of human IgE-binding factor derived from a T cell hybridoma maintained in protein-free medium.

The human T cell hybridoma AC5 has been shown to produce an IgE-binding factor (IgEBF) upon stimulation with T cell mitogens, or anti-CD3 antibody. In this study, the line was established, propagated long term in a newly available serum-free, protein-free medium, and the factor it produced was analyzed. Serologic analysis, utilizing an ELISA assay and biotin-labeled human Ig of various isotypes, revealed that the IgEBF thus obtained was highly specific for the Ig epsilon-chain and was released primarily within the first 24 h after mitogen stimulation. Using biotin-labeled IgE as the detecting reagent, Western blot analysis of this factor demonstrated that the molecule was a single chain moiety of m.w. 64,000, and could be purified to apparent homogeneity by either DEAE or affinity (IgE column) chromatography. Detection of the IgEBF by ELISA and Western blot correlated well with activity in the previously employed rosette inhibition assay. Finally, purified IgEBF was found to suppress in vitro the production of IgE in the monoclonal human myeloma line U266, but not IgA or IgM-producing myelomas, providing evidence for the direct and specific regulatory action of this molecule on IgE-producing cells.