Functional FcεRI engagement by a second secretory IgE isoform detected in humans

We have recently reported that besides the most abundant form epsilonS1, there exists another human secretory epsilon H chain isoform, epsilonS2, resulting from alternative splicing in the epsilonCH4 exon. Using a specific antibody targeted to the epsilonS2-specific C-terminal tailpiece, we now show that this second secretory IgE isoform (IgE-S2) is constitutively co-expressed with the classical secretory IgE-S1 by human myeloma cells. The epsilonS2 variant was also detected in tonsils and in the serum of three non-atopic donors, but was absent in the vast majority of sera of both atopic and non-atopic individuals tested, indicating rare serum expression. IgE-S2 is capable of binding to cells expressing Fc epsilonRI, the high-affinity receptor for IgE. Analysis of intracellular tyrosine phosphorylation signal, degranulation, and rate of receptor internalization suggest a quantitatively lower response by IgE-S2 compared to IgE-S1. The modest differences observed do not appear to overall affect the degranulation competency of IgE-S2, but suggest that the unique structure of the epsilonS2 tailpiece can exert an effect on the interaction with the alpha chain of Fc epsilonRI.