Fc-Epsilon-Receptor-Bearing Lymphocytes in Patients with Clonorchiasis

Abstract

Expression of Fc-ε-receptors (FcεR) on peripheral blood lymphocytes was examined in patients with clonorchiasis. Mean serum IgE levels in these patients was 2,518 IU/ml. FcεR was detected by flow cytometry analysis with monoclonal antibody. The frequency of FcεR+ lymphocytes and the density of FcεR on the cells in the patients were similar to those in normal subjects. Most of the FcεR+ lymphocytes were B cells. The number of FcεR+ cells decreased after incubation in serum-free medium at 37 °C for 3 h. The amount of regulatory molecules of IgE production, IgE binding factor, was not significantly different between the patients and normal subjects. The number of FcγR bearing T or B cells in the patients was also similar to that of normal subjects. These results indicate that the mechanisms of elevated serum IgE in patients with clonorchiasis might be different from other diseases with hyperglobulinemia E.