Induction of IgE receptors on human lymphocytes.

A mouse myeloma IgE protein was cross-linked with dimethylsuberimidate to induce polymerization and incubated with normal human peripheral blood T lymphocytes in tissue culture. After 24 hours at 37 degrees C approximately 30% of the cells formed rosettes with IgE sensitized red cells as compared with much lower levels in the controls. A variety of controls established that the cellular receptors involved in rosette formation were specific for IgE. Monomeric mouse IgE failed to induce a response.