Human neutrophils express immunoglobulin E (IgE)-binding proteins (Mac-2/epsilon BP) of the S-type lectin family: role in IgE-dependent activation.

It has been suggested that neutrophils may be involved in the late-phase reaction of immunoglobulin E (IgE)-dependent hypersensitivity states. However, the identity of neutrophil-associated molecules inducing the release of mediators remains unclear. In this report, we demonstrate that human neutrophils from normal donors or from patients with inflammatory disorders could bind myeloma IgE proteins, especially after desialylation. Northern blot, immunoprecipitation, and flow cytometry analyses revealed that neutrophils did not express Fc epsilon RII/CD23, but rather Mac-2/epsilon binding protein (BP), belonging to the S-type lectin family. Similarly to IgA used as positive control, myeloma IgE proteins, as well as polyclonal IgE antibodies with or without antibody specificity, were both capable of inducing a neutrophil respiratory burst. Anti-Mac-2 but not anti-CD23 mAb strongly decreased the IgE-dependent activation of neutrophils, induced either by the specific antigen or by anti-IgE antibodies. These findings open new perspectives on the functional role of neutrophils in IgE-associated diseases including allergic states or parasitic infections.