The presence of IgE on macrophages and dendritic cells infiltrating into the skin lesion of atopic dermatitis.

Monoclonal antibodies reactive with human IgE were used to investigate the presence of surface IgE in situ on mononuclear cells infiltrating into the skin lesion of atopic dermatitis (A.D.) by application of the immunoperoxidase technique to tissue sections for light and electron microscopic examination. A substantial proportion of infiltrating macrophages but not of lymphocytes were found to bear IgE on their cell surfaces. These observations raise the possibility that IgE may contribute to the skin inflammation associated with A.D. via non-mast-cell-mediated immune mechanisms. We hypothesize that allergens introduced into the skin lesion of A.D. are potentially capable of interacting not only with IgE-bearing mast cells but also with IgE-bearing macrophages and dendritic cells to cause the release of inflammatory mediators.