Suppression by relevant allergen of the spontaneous in vitro production of rye group I specific IgE antibodies by human peripheral blood lymphocytes.

The production in vitro of rye Group I specific IgE antibodies (rye I specific IgE Ab) by human peripheral blood lymphocytes (PBL) was examined. A sensitive enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay was developed which allowed the detection of rye I specific IgE Ab without interference from other immunoglobulin classes. A significant net synthesis of rye I specific IgE Ab by PBL from atopic subjects was detected only during the pollen season, which could not be observed with PBL from non-atopic donors whenever tested. This active synthesis in vitro of IgE antibodies by PBL from atopic patients in season was suppressed when PBL were pre-incubated with the relevant antigen. Furthermore, we are reporting data suggesting an inhibition of the passive release of preformed rye I specific IgE Ab from cells by the specific allergen.