The who, where, and when of IgE in allergic airway disease

• Published in: Journal of allergy and clinical immunology 2012-03, Vol.129 (3), p.635-645
• Main Authors: Dullaers, Melissa, PhD, De Bruyne, Ruth, MD, Ramadani, Faruk, PhD, Gould, Hannah J., PhD, Gevaert, Philippe, MD, PhD, Lambrecht, Bart N., MD, PhD
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: allergic rhinitis; Allergies; Allergy and Immunology; Animals; atopic asthma; Biological and medical sciences; Cell Differentiation; Cell Movement; Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, asthma; Endoplasmic reticulum; Flow cytometry; Fundamental and applied biological sciences. Psychology; Fundamental immunology; Humans; IgE; Immune system; Immunoglobulin E - immunology; Immunoglobulins; Immunopathology; Lymphocytes; Medical sciences; memory B cells; Molecular Targeted Therapy; plasma cells; Plasma Cells - immunology; Pneumology; Respiratory Hypersensitivity - immunology; Respiratory Hypersensitivity - therapy; Sarcoidosis. Granulomatous diseases of unproved etiology. Connective tissue diseases. Elastic tissue diseases. Vasculitis; Transcription factors
• ISSN: 0091-6749; 1097-6825
• DOI: 10.1016/j.jaci.2011.10.029

Allergic asthma and allergic rhinitis/conjunctivitis are characterized by a TH 2-dominated immune response associated with increased serum IgE levels in response to inhaled allergens. Because IgE is a key player in the induction and maintenance of allergic inflammation, it represents a prime target for therapeutic intervention. However, our understanding of IgE biology remains fragmentary. This article puts together our current knowledge on IgE in allergic airway diseases with a special focus on the identity of IgE-secreting cells (“who”), their location (“where”), and the circumstances in which they are induced (“when”). We further consider the therapeutic implications of the insights gained.