Effect of deuterium oxide on leukotriene C4 generation in immunologically stimulated human leukocytes.

Addition of deuterium oxide (D2O), 6-36%, resulted in a dose-dependent increase in allergen- or anti-IgE-induced leukotriene C4 (LTC4) generation from human basophils. In the presence of 36% D2O, the enhancement was 260 +/- 135% for allergen stimulation and 480 +/- 152% for anti-IgE stimulation as compared with the control incubated in normal buffer. The increasing effect of D2O on LTC4 generation from basophils was completely reversed by washing the cells before incubation with allergen.

[Immunopharmacological approach to the modulation of IgE antibody formation].

Soluble factors released by both T and B cells are involved in the class-specific regulation of IgE antibody formation; some factors have affinity for IgE, whereas others do not. The induction phase of the primary and secondary IgE antibody response is highly sensitive to treatment with such factors or some drugs. In contrast, persistent IgE antibody formation is mostly insensitive to the same treatments, indicating that this phase differs apparently from the induction phase.