It was previously shown that RPMI 8866 cells released IgE-binding factors (IgE-BFs) capable of enhancing the spontaneous in vitro synthesis of IgE by purified B lymphocytes isolated from allergic individuals. In the present study, the influence of tunicamycin, an inhibitor of protein glycosylation, on RPMI 8866 cells was investigated with regard to: (i) the expression of surface receptors for IgE; (ii) the release of IgE-BFs into the culture supernatants, and (iii) the biological activity of IgE-BFs. After preincubation for 60 min with tunicamycin (1 microgram/ml), RPMI 8866 cells were cultured for 48 hr in HB 101 serum-free medium; the culture supernatant was then filtered, concentrated, and its biological activity was compared to that of a parallel culture supernatant from untreated RPMI 8866 cells. The results of these experiments indicate that exposure of RPMI 8866 cells to tunicamycin resulted in: (i) a reduction of surface Fc epsilon R; (ii) no effect on the release of IgE-BFs into the culture supernatant, and (iii) the conversion of IgE-potentiating factors into IgE-suppressing factors. The latter factors suppressed the IgE secretion by U266 myeloma cells and completely inhibited the activity of IgE-potentiating factors on B lymphocytes from allergic individuals. IgE-BFs secreted by tunicamycin-treated cells had no effect on the production of IgG, IgA or IgM by normal or EBV-transformed B cells.