Detection of antigen‐specific IgE‐plaque‐forming cells from peripheral‐blood lymphocytes of ragweed‐ and grass‐allergic patients

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Abstract
Summary: The reverse haemolytic plaque assay was developed to measure antigen (AgE or rye grass I)‐specific IgE‐plaque‐forming cells from the peripheral‐blood lymphocytes of ragweed‐ and grass‐allergic patients. The anti‐IgE‐developing antisera was shown to be isotype‐specific, and the response of the assay was inhibited by 52% by the addition of 10 pg of antigen. In addition, the assay was shown to have a reproducibility (s.d.) of 15%. The blood lymphocytes from all fifteen atopic (grass and ragweed) patients were shown to form antigen‐specific IgE‐plaque‐forming cells during the pollen season (mean value 115 cells) and up to 6 months after the season (mean value 56 cells). Cycloheximide appears to block the formation of the plaque‐forming cells. This method appears to be sensitive and reproducible enough to study in vitro IgE antibody synthesis of peripheral‐blood lymphocytes from atopies.