ENUMERATION OF ANTIGEN-SPECIFIC IGE RESPONSES AT THE SINGLE-CELL LEVEL BY AN ELISA PLAQUE-ASSAY

In vitro elicitation and enumeration of antigen-specific IgE-secreting cells in antigen-primed murine lymophocyte cultures can be reproducibly and accurately quantitated. Rat anti-mouse IgE monoclonal antibodies (Mab anti-epsilon) were developed. Antigen-specific IgE-secreting cells can be detected on antigen or MAb anti-epsilon coated nitrocellulose discs pasted to 24-well culture plates. This IgE ELISA-plaque assay (EP-epsilon) is more reliable than antigen capture or total IgE ELISAs in monitoring de novo induction of antigen-specific IgE memory responses in cultures of antigen-primed lymphocytes elicited with antigens.