In vitro IgE biosynthesis in asthmatic children.

Forty-seven asthmatic children and eight non-allergic adults were studied by the co-culture technique of Wadman et al to test the postulated deficiency of IgE suppressor T-cell function in allergic patients. The results showed that (1) lymphocytes from asthmatic children synthesize more IgE than those from normal adults, (2) there was no correlation between serum IgE and in vitro IgE biosynthesis, (3) co-culture of lymphocytes from normal adults and patients often resulted in deviation, both enhancing and inhibiting, from expected values; therefore, no consistent suppressor T-cell defect could be demonstrated in patients; and (4) after hyposensitization, while there was a tendency for the serum IgE to decline, the capability of IgE biosynthesis tended to increase.