Allergen Binding to Human Peripheral Leukocytes

Abstract

Washed human leukocytes isolated from ragweed allergic and normal donors were incubated with <sup>125</sup> labelled ragweed antigen E, in the presence of EDTA. Autoradiographs of peripheral white blood cells from ragweed allergic donors were incubated with <sup>125</sup> labelled ragweed antigen E, in the presence phils and only rarely on the neutrophils. By immunofluorescence <i>γ</i>E immunoglobulin localized on the eosinophils and basophils in both ragweed allergic and normal donors. The results indicate that these eosinophilic leukocytes bind ragweed antigen E and that the eosinophils and basophils both are coated with <i>γ</i>E immunoglubulin.