Altered IgE response in γδ T cell-modified mice. (a) Background serum IgE levels and primary OVA/alum-induced IgE responses in genetically altered mouse strains. Total serum IgE concentrations in C57BL/6, B6.TCR-β−/−, B6.TCR-β−/−/δ−/−, B6.TCR-δ−/−, B6.TCR-Vγ4−/−/6−/−, and B6.TCR-Vγ1 Tg mice was measured using sandwich ELISA 14 days after i.p. injection of OVA/alum, and in non-treated controls. Results for each group are expressed as the mean +/− SEM (n=18, 4, 4, 20, 15, 6, in the order shown). NT, Non-treated; ***, Significant difference (p < 0.001) compared to OVA-challenged C57BL/6 mice. Note: Significant differences in basal IgE levels between the mouse strains shown in Fig. 1a are listed in the text.
(b) Effect of treatment with anti TCR-mAbs on the primary OVA/alum-induced IgE response in C57BL/6 mice. Normal C57BL/6 mice were injected i.v. with non-specific hamster IgG (HIgG), anti-TCR-δ, anti-TCR-Vγ4, and anti-TCR-Vγ1 mAbs on day -4, and total serum IgE concentrations were determined on day 14 after i.p. injection of OVA/alum. Mice that received the OVA/alum injection but no antibody treatment were included as controls. Results for each group are expressed as the mean +/− SEM (n=4 in each group). *, Significant difference compared to untreated or HIgG-treated controls (p < 0.05).