In vitro production of IgE by lymphocytes from a patient with hyperimmunoglobulinaemia E, eosinophilia and increased lymphocytes carrying surface IgE.

The peripheral blood lymphocytes of a patient with massive hyperimmunoglobulinaemia E were used for in vitro studies. The serum IgE ranged from 140,000-210,000 u/ml. Peripheral blood lymphocytes had approximately 7% of cells staining for surface IgE. When these cells were cultured in vitro, IgE was produced as measured by the double antibody radioimmunoassay technique. The total IgE produced ranged from 140 to 484 units per 24 hr in different cultures. IgE production was greatest in the first 24 hr of culture and declined progressively thereafter. Some cultures still had measurable IgE at 48 hr. If the lymphocytes staining for surface IgE were the cells producing the IgE, it was estimated that between 1-7 and 2-8 molecules per cell per second were produced. No definite effect of concanavalin A, pokeweed mitogen or phytohaemagglutinin on in vitro IgE production could be demonstrated under the conditions of these experiments.