Regulation of the expression of the low-affinity IgE receptor (Fc epsilon RII) in the human monocyte-like cell line U-937 by phorbol esters and IgE

The expression of the low-affinity receptor for IgE Fc epsilon RII) in the human monocyte-like U-937 cell line can be upregulated by the phorbol ester 12-O-tetradecanoylphorbol-13-acetate (TPA) and by IgE. TPA induces terminal differentiation of U-937 cells and causes a four- to fivefold increase in the number of Fc epsilon RII. TPA also modulates the expression of several other membrane markers of U-937 cells. IgE alone has a modest effect on the expression of Fc epsilon RII (about a 10% increase), while simultaneous treatment of U-937 cells with TPA and IgE has a cooperative effect, causing an eightfold increase in the number of Fc epsilon RII. Cycloheximide strongly suppresses the expression of Fc epsilon RII, both in TPA-stimulated and unstimulated cells; this effect can be partly reversed by culturing the cells in the presence of IgE. These results suggest that TPA induces the expression of newly synthesized receptors, while IgE causes an accumulation of preformed receptors.