Premium
Effects of a Beta‐Receptor Blocking Agent (Propranolol) on Synthesis of IgE in vitro by Peripheral Blood Lymphocytes from Atopic Patients
Author(s) -
Hovmark Anders,
ÅSbrink Eva
Publication year - 1981
Publication title -
allergy
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 3.363
H-Index - 173
eISSN - 1398-9995
pISSN - 0105-4538
DOI - 10.1111/j.1398-9995.1981.tb01844.x
Subject(s) - atopy , immunoglobulin e , immunology , propranolol , receptor , antigen , in vitro , medicine , allergy , lymphocyte , immune system , antibody , chemistry , endocrinology , biochemistry
Peripheral blood lymphocytes from patients with atopy were studied for IgE production in vitro. Addition of a beta‐receptor blocking agent (propranolol) to lymphocytes from 9 of 10 patients with low spontaneous IgE production in vitro caused increased IgE production. In 10 tests with lymphocytes from patients, who were undergoing hyposensitization treatment for cat epithelium and/or birch pollen allergy, no spontaneous in vitro production of the relevant antigen‐specific IgE antibodies was detected. However, when propranolol was added to the lymphocyte cultures in vitro , production of antigen‐specific IgE antibodies was found. No such production was found when lymphocytes from patients who were not allergic to either of these antigens were studied. Szentivanyi's theory of a partial blockade of beta‐adrenergic receptors in atopy and a possible linkage between this theory and the hypotheses of disturbed regulatory functions in the immune system of patients with atopy is discussed.