V-H GENES EXPRESSED IN PERIPHERAL-BLOOD IGE-PRODUCING B-CELLS FROM PATIENTS WITH ATOPIC-DERMATITIS

In this study we analysed the V-H genes expressed in IgE-producing per ipheral B cells in two patients with severe atopic dermatitis. We foun d a diverse antibody repertoire containing VH genes of five different V-H families, no V(H)2 and 7 genes, with no biased usage of one partic ular V-H gene family. Some V-H germ-line segments were found to be use d several times within the epsilon transcripts (V3-23, V3-30). Compari son of the IgE-encoding V-H genes with the respective germ-line elemen ts revealed the expression of nearly germ-line identical as well as so matically mutated V-H genes. In these latter V-H genes base substituti ons were distributed over both complementarity determining and framewo rk regions. Because of the similarities between the IgE committed B ce ll repertoire in atopic patients and the peripheral B cell repertoire in non-atopic individuals we conclude that the atopic V-H gene reperto ire probably reflects the result of an increased class switch of polyc lonal B cells, including virgin and mature B cells, in response to a T h2 cytokine profile.