B cells that simultaneously express surface IgM and IgE in Nippostrongylus brasiliensis-infected SJA/9 mice do not provide evidence for isotype switching without gene deletion.

Recently, it has been reported that in SJA/9 mice infected with Nippostrongylus brasiliensis there are increased numbers of lymphoid cells positive for surface IgM and IgE (sIgM+ and sIgE+) even though they fail to secrete IgE, that both the sIgM and sIgE on these cells are intrinsic, and that there has been no deletion of genes for the Ig heavy chain constant region in these cells. These observations support a nondeletional model for Ig isotype switching. We have now reexamined the nature of sIgE on sIgE+ spleen and mesenteric lymph node cells of N. brasiliensis-infected SJA/9 mice, and the following observations lead us to believe that this sIgE is cytophilic rather than intrinsic: (i) Only approximately 50% of the N. brasiliensis-infected SJA/9 mice have detectable percentages of sIgE+ lymphoid cells. All mice with detectable sIgE+ lymphocytes have lymphocytes positive for intracytoplasmic IgE (cIgE+) and secrete IgE in vitro, while cIgE+ cells and IgE secretion are absent from N. brasiliensis-infected SJA/9 mice that lack sIgE+ cells. (ii) SJA/9 B lymphocytes have receptors for IgE: expression of these receptors is increased in N. brasiliensis-infected mice that have sIgE+ lymphocytes, but not in infected SJA/9 mice that lack sIgE+ lymphocytes. (iii) Treatment of sIgM+ sIgD+ sIgE+ cells for 1 min with dilute acid removes most sIgE but does not affect expression of sIgM or sIgD. (iv) The removal of mouse IgE from sIgE+ B cells facilitates the binding of exogenous rat IgE. (v) The small amount of sIgE that is reexpressed during a period of in vitro culture after acid treatment is blocked by inclusion of exogenous rat IgE in the culture medium. These observations show that most sIgM+ sIgE+ B cells in N. brasiliensis-infected SJA/9 mice do not express intrinsic sIgE; thus studies using these cells to determine mechanisms of Ig isotype switching are inconclusive.