Ja. Holloway et al., Expression of the high-affinity IgE receptor on peripheral blood dendriticcells: Differential binding of IgE in atopic asthma, J ALLERG CL, 107(6), 2001, pp. 1009-1018
Background: Dendritic cells can express the high-affinity IgE receptor (Fc
epsilon RI), which, in the presence of specific IgE, facilitates the uptake
of allergen, leading to increased activation of allergen-specific T tells.
FceRI expression by dendritic cells is higher in the airways of atopic ast
hmatic subjects than in those of healthy, nonatopic control subjects.
Objective: The aims of this study were to determine whether a similar diffe
rence in Fc epsilon RI expression occurs between dendritic cells in the per
ipheral blood of atopic asthmatic subjects and healthy individuals and also
whether an altered ability of Fc epsilon RI+ peripheral blood dendritic ce
lls to bind IgE accompanies the atopic asthmatic state.
Methods: Flow cytometry was used to analyze the surface expression of Fc ep
silon RI and exogenously bound IgE on dendritic tells identified as lineage
negative (CD3, CD14, CD16, CD19, and CD56) and HLA-DR bright.
Results: The total expression of Fc epsilon RI on the surface of dendritic
cells from healthy and asthmatic subjects was not significantly different.
However, in vivo, dendritic cells from atopic asthmatic subjects had higher
levels of receptor occupancy by IgE and bound exogenous IgE in vitro more
efficiently than dendritic cells from healthy subjects.
Conclusion: The similar levels of expression of Fc epsilon RI on peripheral
blood dendritic cells from healthy and asthmatic subjects suggest that the
local environment in the airway is responsible for the upregulation of sur
face FceRI on airway dendritic cells in asthma, The results also suggest th
at the functional ability of FceRI to bind IgE is differentially controlled
in the atopic state.