Abstract
As lymphocytes have been reported to have theophylline (THEO) receptors and variable sensitivity to hydrocortisone (HC), we have analyzed the effects of these widely used agents on atopic subjects' cultured mononuclear cell (MNC) supernatant IgE concentrations (S IgE). MNC were isolated from69 patients with elevated serum IgE (10,954 ng/ml) and cultured at 2×106/ml for 7 and 12 days in RPMI 1640 with 10% fetal calf serum to which 10−4 M THEO or 10−3 M to 10−7 M HC was added. Viable cell numbers (VCN) were assessed at the beginning and termination of culture by trypan blue exclusion; S IgE was measured by double-antibody RIA. THEO had no demonstrable effect on either S IgE (965 pg/ml with vs 1,676 pg/ml without, p=NS) or VON (1.29 × 106/ml with vs 1.28 × 106/ml without, p=NS) in studies with MNC of 3 patients. Cultures from 6 patients containing 10−3 M HC had less S IgE on day 7 (1,974 pg/ml with vs 5,532 pg/ml without, p<.05) and on day 12 (2,359 pg/ml vs 5,958 pg/ml, p<.05). However, at 10−3 M HC, VCN was also reduced (0.39 × 106 cells/ml with vs 0.88 × 106 cells/ml without, p<.005). In contrast, MNC from the same 6 patients cultured with 10−6 M HC had significantly more S Ig on day 7 (10,597 pg/ml with vs 5,532 pg/ml, p<.05) and on day 12 (12,393 pg/ml vs 5,938 pg/ml without, p<.05) even though 10−6 M HC also reduced VCN on day 7 (0.625 × 106/ml with vs 0.88 × 106 without, p<.05). Since S IgE augmentation by 10−6 M HC was noted despite fewer cells than in culture without HC, the effect may be directly on the B cell rather than allowing increased cell replication by action on suppressor T cells. Subpopulation studies are underway to elucidate the target cell of HC in this enhancing effect.
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Shirley, L., Buckley, R. 967 EFFECTS HYDROCORTISONE AND THEOPHYLLINE CN MONONUCLEAR CELL SUPERNATANT IgE CONCENTRATIONS. Pediatr Res 15 (Suppl 4), 603 (1981). https://doi.org/10.1203/00006450-198104001-00992
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1203/00006450-198104001-00992