Different effects of concanavalin A-activated T-cells on the in vitro IgG and IgE biosynthesis in asthmatic children and normals.

The T-cell regulations of IgG and IgE biosynthesis were studied by treating purified T-cells from normal adult and asthmatic patients with various concentrations of concanavalin A (Con A) and the co-cultivated with allogeneic mononuclear cells in the presence of pokeweed mitogen for seven days. After being treated with 20 microgram/ml or more of Con A for 18 hours, T-cells from both normal and allergic individuals were able to suppress IgG, but not IgE, production of allogeneic lymphocytes. The results suggest that the T-cell regulation of IgE production is different from that of IgG synthesis and allergic patients do retain suppressor T-cell function(s).