Immunoglobulin E (IgE) is central to the induction of allergic diseases through its binding to the high-affinity receptor (Fc epsilon R1) on mast cells and basophils. Crosslinking by allergens of the bound IgE leads to the release of various inflammatory mediators. IgE production by B cells requires a physical interaction with T cells, involving a number of surface adhesion molecules, as well as the soluble factors interleukin-4 (IL-4) and IL-13 (ref. 5) produced by T cells, basophils and mast cells. Here we report that, in the presence of IL-4, mast and basophilic cell lines can provide the cell contact signals that are required for IgE synthesis. The human cell lines HMC-1 (mast) and KU812 (basophilic) both express the ligand for CD40 (CD40L) which is shown to be responsible for the IgE production. Moreover, freshly isolated purified human lung mast cells and blood basophils are also shown to express CD40L and to induce IgE production. This evidence suggests that mast cells and basophils may therefore play a key role in allergy not only by producing inflammatory mediators, but also by directly regulating IgE production independently of T cells.

SummaryInterleukin 4 (11,4)-induced IgE production coincides with the appearance of the 2.2-kb productive e-mRNA, but is preceded by synthesis of a 1 .7-kb e-RNA. Analysis of cDNA copies of the 5' end of this RNA indicated that the 1.7-kb E-RNA is a germline e immunoglobulin heavy chain transcript with an exon mapping 5' to the switch region . Transcription through switch regions has been implicated in the control of class switching . However, IL4 or cloned CD4+ T cells were able to induce germline e transcripts without inducing IgE synthesis, for which both signals were required. These results indicate that induction of human germline e-RNA does not necessarily result in IgE synthesis, and that additional regulatory mechanisms are involved in class switching.

In the present study, it is demonstrated that cloned surface IgM-positive human B cells can be induced to proliferate and to switch with high frequencies to IgG4 and IgE production after a contact-mediated signal provided by T cell clones and interleukin 4 (IL-4). This T cell signal is antigen nonspecific and is provided by activated CD4+ cells, whereas activated CD8+ or resting CD4+ T cell clones are ineffective. 15-35% of the B cell clones cultured with cloned CD4+ T cells and IL-4 produced antibodies; 35-45% of those wells in which antibodies were produced contained IgE and IgG4. In addition to B cell clones that produced IgG4 or IgE only, B cell clones producing multiple isotypes were observed. Simultaneous production of IgG4 and IgE, IgM, IgE, and IgM, or IgG4 and IgE was detected, suggesting that during clonal expansion switching might occur in successive steps from IgM to IgG4 and IgE. In addition, production of only IgM, IgG4, and IgE during clonal expansion indicates that this isotype switching is directed by the way a B cell is stimulated and that it is not a stochastic process.

Summary N-Acetyl-L-cysteine (NAC) is an antioxidant precursor of intracellular glutathione (GSH), usually given in humans as a mucolytic agent . In vitro, NAC and GSH have been shown to act on T cells by increasing interleukin (IL) 2 production, synthesis and turnover of IL-2 receptors, proliferation, cytotoxic properties, and resistance to apoptosis. We report here that NAC and GSH decrease in a dose-dependent manner human IL-4 production by stimulated peripheral blood T cells and by T helper (Th) 0-and Th2-like T cell clones. This effect was associated with a decrease in IL-4 messenger RNA transcription . In contrast, NAC and GSH had no effect on interferon y and increased IL-2 production and T cell proliferation . A functional consequence was the capacity ofNAC and GSH to selectively decrease in a dose-dependent manner IL-4-induced immunoglobulin (Ig) E and IgG4 production by human peripheral blood mononuclear cells . Interestingly, NAC and GSH also acted directly on purified tonsillar B cells by decreasing the mature e messenger RNA, hence decreasing IgE production . In contrast, IgA and IgM production were not affected . At the same time, B cell proliferation was increased in a dose-dependent manner. Not all antioxidants tested but only SH-bearing molecules mimicked these properties. Finally, when given orally to mice, NAC decreased both IgE and IgG1 antibody responses to ovalbumin. These results demonstrate that NAC, GSH, and other thiols may control the production of both the Th2-derived cytokine IL-4 and IL-4-induced Ig in vitro and in vivo.

To determine the role of germline epsilon transcription in IgE synthesis, the effects of cytokines on germline epsilon RNA synthesis in IL-4 dependent epsilon switching in B cells was investigated. Induction of germline epsilon transcription in highly purified B cells seems to be a specific property of IL-4, since none of the other cytokines tested [IL-1 alpha, beta, IL-2, IL-3, IL-5, IL-6, IL-7, IL-9, IL-10, G-CSF, GM-CSF, M-CSF, IFN-gamma, IFN-alpha, tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-alpha, and transforming growth factor (TGF)-beta] were effective. TGF-beta, IFN-gamma, and IFN-alpha inhibit IL-4 dependent IgE synthesis, but only TGF-beta blocked germline epsilon RNA synthesis in purified B cells, indicating that this may be the mechanism by which TGF-beta inhibits IgE synthesis, and that IFN-gamma and IFN-alpha act on other stages of the regulatory process resulting in IgE production. IL-5, IL-6, and TNF-alpha enhance IL-4 dependent IgE synthesis, but only TNF-alpha enhanced IL-4 induced germline epsilon RNA synthesis. Finally, anti-CD40 mAbs and the non-IL-4 producing CD4+ T cell clone A3, which in the presence of IL-4 induce IgE synthesis by purified B cells, both strongly enhanced germline epsilon transcription. These data, together with the observation that epsilon switching in cultures initiated with single sIgM+, sIgE- B cells in all instances was preceded by germline epsilon RNA synthesis, indicate that there is a strong relationship between germline epsilon transcription and IgE synthesis.