Human IgE, IgG and IgE antibody synthesis in vitro.

Human IgE biosynthesis in vitro was studied by co-culturing T and B cells from atopic patients and normal controls in the presence of 10 microliter/ml pokeweed mitogen for 7 days. IgE and anti-mite IgE ab in the culture media significantly correlated with those in plasma. Normal T cells suppressed in vitro production of IgE and IgE ab significantly more than did atopic T cells but no difference was found in IgG production. The culture of B cells alone (T-depleted fraction) produced IgE equally as well as the co-culture of T and B cells. Anti-mite IgE ab was also produced by B cells alone from mite-sensitive patients. However, IgE biosynthesis in vitro was not consistently affected by pokeweed mitogen. The results suggest a deficiency of the T suppressor system in atopy and the existence of T-independent IgE-producing cells.