Abstract
Studies of the nature of the antibodies associated with isologous skin sensitizing activity have indicated the presence of a previously unrecognized immunoglobulin in human serum. The immunoglobulin was identified by virtue of specific antigenic determinants. Independently, a protein with similar antigen characteristics was identified both in the serum of a patient with multiple myeloma and in normal serum. It is proposed that the normal protein and antigenically related myeloma proteins shall be designated IgE or γE, and the heavy polypeptide chains of these molecules be designated ε (epsilon)-chains, in accordance with “Nomenclature for Human Immunoglobulins.”<sup>2</sup> This replaces the previous usage of γ-globulin and IgND. IgE has antigenic determinants in common with other immunoglobulin classes, as well as specific antigenic determinants. IgE from non-myeloma sources contained the determinants of light chains of type K and type L. The E myeloma protein had light chains of type L.
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