In vivo studies suggested the possibility of an IgE-dependent regulati
on of high-affinity (Fc epsilon RI) IgE receptor expression on basophi
ls. The current studies extend these observations to in vitro cultures
of human basophils. Incubation of basophils for 3 to 4 weeks resulted
in a slow dissociation of IgE antibody, during which time Fc epsilon
RI expression decreased, as measured by flow cytometry using the anti-
Fc epsilon RI alpha monoclonal antibody, 22E7, or by measuring Fc epsi
lon RI alpha mass by Western blotting of whole-cell lysates. Culture o
f basophils with IgE resulted in upregulation of Fc epsilon RI alpha e
xpression by both flow cytometry and Western blotting of whole-cell ly
sates, Upregulation followed a linear time course during 2 weeks of cu
lture. The relative increase in Fc epsilon RI alpha density depended o
n the starting density; with starting densities of Fc epsilon RI alpha
of 10,000 to 170,000 per basophil, the upregulation varied 20- to 1.1
-fold, respectively. Upregulation occurred in high-purity basophils, w
as not influenced by IgG at concentrations up to 1 mg/mL, and was inhi
bited by dimeric IgE. Heat-inactivated IgE was less effective and the
monoclonal antibody CGP51901 that prevents IgE binding to Fc epsilon R
I alpha blocked the ability of IgE to induce upregulation. The dose-re
sponse curve for IgE-induced upregulation had an effective concentrati
ons(50) of 230 ng/mL. Although the receptor through which IgE induces
this upregulation is not yet known, several characteristics suggest th
at the upregulation is mediated by IgE interacting through Fc epsilon
RI alpha itself. (C) 1998 by The American Society of Hematology.