LYMPHOCYTES BEARING FC RECEPTORS FOR IGE .2. INDUCTION OF FC-EPSILON-RECEPTOR BEARING RAT LYMPHOCYTES BY IGE

  • 1 January 1979
    • journal article
    • research article
    • Vol. 123  (1) , 455-462
Abstract
The proportion of lymphocytes bearing receptors for Ig[immunoglobulin]E (Fc.epsilon.R) markedly increased after infection of rats with Nippostrongylus brasiliensis (Nb). The Fc.epsilon.R-bearing lymphocytes from the infected animals bound more IgE-coated erythrocytes in rosette assay than Fc.epsilon.R-bearing cells from normal rats, suggesting that the number of Fc.epsilon.R/cell may increase following the infection. The number of IgE-receptors on peritoneal mast cells did not change after Nb infection. The increase in the proportion of Fc.epsilon.R-bearing lymphocytes in Nb-infected rats was probably due to an increased concentration of IgE in the environment. The proportion of Fc.epsilon.R-bearing cells in normal rat lymphocyte suspensions increased by culture of the cells with rat IgE of 1 .mu.g/ml or higher concentration. Other immunoglobulins such as rat IgG, human IgE or rabbit IgG failed to induce Fc.epsilon.R-bearing cells or Fc.gamma.R-bearing cells. Induction of Fc receptors by rat IgE is apparently confined to Fc.epsilon.R. Kinetic studies on the induction of Fc.epsilon.R-bearing lymphocytes in vitro showed that the proportion of these cells in lymphocyte suspensions increased within 8 h incubation with rat IgE but not within 4 h. RNA synthesis and protein synthesis, but not DNA synthesis, are required for the induction of Fc.epsilon.R-bearing cells or the expression of the receptors on the cell surface.