Analysis of Hyper IgE Nemia in Patients with Allergic Rhinitis

Functional studies on immune response cells in an in vitro co-culture system

Abstract

It was found that pokeweed mitogen (PWM) generated helper T cell function, and Concanavalin A (Con A) generated suppressor T cell function for IgE production in a human peripheral T-B cell co-culture system. This assay system provides useful information for estimating the regulatory function for IgE production of human T cells in several allergic diseases. With this system, the quantitive activity of helper T cell and suppressor T cell function was measured in patients with allergic rhinitis. It was found that helper T cell function was enhanced and suppressor T cell function suppressed in these patients. Hyper IgE Nemia in these patients was probably due to the reciprocal action of increasing functional activity of helper T cells and decreasing functional activity of suppressor T cells.