FREQUENCY AND ACTIVITY OF IGE-SECRETING PERIPHERAL-BLOOD B-CELLS IN ATOPIC ECZEMA

Increased immunoglobulin (Ig) E-levels are frequently found in the ser a of patients with atopic eczema, To further understand the mechanisms underlying this increase of IgE, like enlarged number of IgE-producin g cells, enhanced activity of IgE-producing cells or altered IgE metab olism, we analyzed the frequency and activity of IgE-producing B-lymph ocytes within peripheral blood mononuclear cells of patients with atop ic eczema. By use of a sensitive solid phase enzyme-linked immunospot assay (ELISPOT), IgE-secreting cells could be visualized within periph eral blood mononuclear cells of 14 individuals (12 patients with atopi c eczema, one patient with impetigo contagiosa, one patient with aller gic contact dermatitis) at a frequency of 10-1,120 IgE-secreting cells /10(5) B-lymphocytes. The number of IgE-secreting cells was markedly c orrelated with the corresponding serum IgE-level (r = 0.97). Secretory activity was also reflected by in vitro IgE production, which was ass essed in parallel 7-day cultures and found to be related with actual s erum IgE-levels. The enhanced serum IgE-levels in patients with atopic eczema seem to result primarily from an increased number of circulati ng IgE-secreting B-cells, which may also be found, however, in patient s with elevated serum IgE-levels, showing different skin diseases.