Ultrastructural localization of IgE in peripheral blood monocytes from atopics

Monocyte-enriched preparations derived from peripheral blood leukocytes of atopics were probed via a cocktail comprising peroxidase-conjugated (Fab1)2 fragments of two monoclonal antibodies against human IgE. Reaction product indicative of intracellular IgE was identified by electron microscopy in both large and small vacuoles, and at high magnification exhibited a characteristic granular deposition pattern consistent with highly concentrated (perhaps insolublized) material. IgE-containing vacuoles were observed with comparable frequency to those containing IgG, despite the greater than 10,000-fold relative excess of the latter in serum suggesting highly selective uptake of IgE by the monocytes. These results are similar to those reported recently for IgA in human milk macrophages.