Decreased serum levels of IgE and IgE-binding factors in individuals infected with HTLV-I

SUMMARYThe cell surface expression of low-affinity Fc epsilon receptor (FceRII), which is identical to CD23, and the serum levels of IgE binding factors (IgE BFs), a soluble form of FceRII, and IgE were investigated in HTLV-I-infected individuals, and the results were compared with those for HTLV-I-negative controls. The occurrence of FcεRII+ mononuclear cells did not differ among the blood samples from the HTLV-I-infected groups; however, the levels of serum IgE BFs were significantly decreased (P