Effects of syngeneic anti-IgE antibodies on the development of IgE memory and on the secondary IgE response.

The prolonged inhibition of IgE synthesis in mice caused by perinatal inoculation of IgE is attributable, at least in part, to the formation of anti-IgE antibodies. The induction of unresponsiveness with respect to IgE synthesis requires that IgE be administered during a brief interval (2 to approximately 10) days after birth, that corresponds with the time period during which anti-IgE antibodies are induced. Passive administration of syngeneic anti-IgE also inhibits IgE synthesis. We have now investigated the effect of anti-IgE on the induction of memory for IgE production and on secondary IgE responses. Syngeneic anti-IgE antibodies were found to inhibit secondary IgE responses directly during immunization or after adoptive transfer of primed cells. Anti-IgE did not, however, prevent the induction of memory cells for IgE synthesis or cause the loss of memory for IgE synthesis. Inhibition of a secondary IgE response was found to require the presence of anti-IgE and was lost when anti-IgE antibodies were cleared from the mouse. After the transfer of primed cells and secondary challenge anti-IgE was inhibitory only when given during the first 3 to 5 days, after which the primed cells became resistant to inhibition. The failure of anti-IgE to prevent the induction of IgE memory cells is discussed in terms of class switches that occur during the transition from IgM to IgE production.