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In vivo and in vitro IgE isotype switching in human B lymphocytes: Evidence for a predominantly direct IgM to IgE class switch program
Author(s) -
Van Der Stoep Nienke,
Korver Wouter,
Logtenberg Ton
Publication year - 1994
Publication title -
european journal of immunology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 2.272
H-Index - 201
eISSN - 1521-4141
pISSN - 0014-2980
DOI - 10.1002/eji.1830240610
Subject(s) - immunoglobulin class switching , immunoglobulin e , isotype , biology , immunology , antibody , in vitro , atopic dermatitis , in vivo , microbiology and biotechnology , b cell , monoclonal antibody , genetics
Abstract Molecular analysis of circular excision products and composite genomic switch regions has demonstrated that in mice, immunoglobulin (Ig) isotype switching from IgM to IgE often proceeds sequentially via IgG1. Based on analysis of Ig production in cell cultures, it has been suggested that human B cells may switch to IgE via IgG4, whereas limited molecular data from in vitro switched B cells suggest a direct IgM to IgE switch program. To obtain a quantitative assessment of direct versus sequential IgE switching in humans, we have analyzed the nucleotide sequences of 29 composite Sμ/Sϵ switch regions from freshly isolated human B lymphocytes from patients with atopic dermatitis and from B lymphocytes induced to switch to IgE synthesis in vitro. The data show that in these B cells IgE isotype switching progressed directly from IgM to IgE. We conclude that, in contrast to the murine IgM/IgE switch program, the IgM to IgE switch in B lymphocytes from patients with atopic dermatitis as well as in vitro stimulated B cells from healthy donors preferentially proceeds via direct Sμ to Sϵ switch recombination.