[The production of B cell stimulating activity in peripheral blood mononuclear cells from allergic children with positive IgE RAST score to egg white].

We investigated B cell stimulating activity in peripheral blood mononuclear cells from allergic children with positive IgE RAST score to egg white in order to study whether interleukin-4 (IL-4) was participating in production of IgE antibody. B cell stimulating activity in peripheral blood mononuclear cells from allergic children with positive IgE RAST score to egg white stimulated with ovalbumin (OVA) was higher than that observed in allergic children with negative IgE RAST score to egg white. In allergic children with positive IgE RAST score to egg white stimulated with OVA, B cell stimulating activity in peripheral blood mononuclear cells did not correlate each other; age, IgE RIST, IgE RAST score to egg white and IgG4 antibody to egg white. These results suggest that the production of B cell stimulating activity other than IL-4 may be involved in the patients with egg allergy.