Am. J. Respir. Crit. Care Med., Vol 152, No. 6, Dec 1995, 1765-1773.
Transfer of immediate hypersensitivity and airway hyperresponsiveness by IgE-positive B cells
G Lack, A Oshiba, KL Bradley, JE Loader, D Amran, GL Larsen and EW Gelfand
Department of Pediatrics, National Jewish Center for Immunology and Respiratory Medicine, Denver, Colorado 80206, USA.
The role of allergen-specific sIgE+ B cells in the development of airway
hyperresponsiveness to electrical field stimulation was examined in a
murine model of allergic sensitization. Ovalbumin (OVA)-specific B cells
(OVA+) were isolated from mice that were sensitized to aerosolized OVA. The
OVA+ B cell population was shown to be distinct from the remaining,
non-OVA-responsive B cells (OVA-). There was a high frequency of sIgE+ B
cells and a low frequency of sIgG+ B cells in the OVA+ population compared
with the OVA- population, where the ratio was reversed. Although both
populations produced immunoglobulin in vitro, only the OVA+ cells secreted
anti-OVA antibodies. Transfer of 10(6) OVA+ B cells or as few as 5 x 10(4)
OVA+/sIgE+ B cells was able to transfer the capability for anti-OVA IgE
synthesis and cutaneous reactivity to OVA in naive recipients. Exposure to
OVA via the airways in addition to transfer of OVA+ B cells was necessary
for development of airway hyperresponsiveness, whereas recipients
challenged with an irrelevant allergen, ragweed, had normal airway
function. Transfer of up to 10(7) OVA- B cells failed to induce production
of anti-OVA IgE. Despite production of polyclonal IgE, recipients of OVA- B
cells did not develop airway hyperresponsiveness after OVA challenge. We
conclude that both allergen-specific IgE production and local challenge via
the airways with specific allergen are necessary to change airway function
in this model.
