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Immunoglobulin E antibodies of atopic individuals exhibit a broad usage of V H ‐gene families
Author(s) -
Eibensteiner P.,
Spitzauer S.,
Steinberger P.,
Kraft D.,
Valenta R.
Publication year - 2000
Publication title -
immunology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 2.297
H-Index - 133
eISSN - 1365-2567
pISSN - 0019-2805
DOI - 10.1046/j.1365-2567.2000.00078.x
Subject(s) - immunoglobulin e , atopy , immunology , allergen , antibody , allergy , biology , antigen , polymerase chain reaction , gene , genetics
Summary The term ‘atopy’ describes the genetically determined tendency to mount immunoglobulin E (IgE) antibody responses against per se harmless antigens (allergens). In this study we investigated the usage of V H families in the formation of IgE antibodies in 10 patients suffering from mucosal and/or skin manifestations of atopy. IgE antibody reactivities to exogenous allergen sources as well as to autoallergens were determined and, by immunoabsorption, it was demonstrated that allergen‐specific IgE accounted for most of the total serum IgE levels in these patients. Using primers with specificity for the V H 1–6 gene families and a primer specific for the first constant region of human IgE, cDNAs coding for IgE heavy chain fragments were amplified using the reverse transcription–polymerase chain reaction (RT–PCR) from peripheral blood lymphocytes of the 10 atopic individuals. Hybridization of the heavy chain‐encoding cDNAs with an IgE‐specific internal oligonucleotide probe revealed a broad usage of all V H ‐gene families in the atopic individuals. The spectrum of V H families used in a given atopic individual was neither associated with the type or severity of clinical symptoms nor with the number of allergens recognized. The fact that allergen‐specific IgE antibodies in atopic individuals originate from a broad variety of B cells thus reflects the activation of multiple B‐cell clones during allergen sensitization. This finding should be borne in mind if therapeutic strategies for Type I allergy are considered that aim at a clonal elimination of allergen‐specific B cells.