The effect of DSCG on human IgE production in vitro was studied. DSCG selectively inhibited interleukin-4 (IL-4) induced IgE production by mononuclear cells (MNC) from normal donors without affecting IgM, IgA, IgG1, IgG2 or IgG3 production. In contrast, DSCG enhanced IgG4 production. To achieve this effect, DSCG must be added to the culture at the initiation and be present throughout the entire culture period. Interferon-gamma (IFN-gamma) also inhibited IL-4-induced IgE production, but IgG4 production was not affected by IFN-gamma. Monoclonal anti-IFN-gamma antibody blocked the inhibition of IgE production by IFN-gamma, but did not block the inhibition of IgE production by DSCG. DSCG also selectively inhibited spontaneous IgE production and enhanced IgG4 production by B cells from atopic patients in the presence of T cells and monocytes. These results indicate that there is a mechanism of IgE production inhibition which is not mediated by IFN-gamma. We also found that DSCG is an excellent reagent for the study of IgE and IgG4 regulation in vitro.