Glucocorticoid-induced enhancement of IgE synthesis.

Glucocorticoid-induced enhancement of polyclonal immunoglobulin production of the IgG, A, and M classes by human peripheral blood mononuclear cells has been shown to be dependent on regulatory T-cells. The following in vitro investigation demonstrated an enhancing effect of glucocorticoid on IgE production by mononuclear cells from atopic patients, but not by cells from non-atopic subjects. Augmentation was noted even in cell populations depleted of T cells and monocytes. These observations suggest that the corticosteroid acted directly on an IgE B cell at a late stage of differentiation that was no longer dependent on helper T-cells, although an additional effect on T-suppressor cells was not excluded.