Journal of Allergy and Clinical Immunology
The Immune System4. IgE, mast cells, basophils, and eosinophils☆
Section snippets
IGE
IgE (immunoglobulin E) reaginic antibody has an approximate molecular weight of 190 kd, shows no transplacental transfer, and, unlike other immunoglobulins, does not activate complement by the classic pathway. IgE is thermolabile and will not sensitize after it has been heated to 56°C for several hours. IgE is principally known for its ability to bind with high-affinity to its specific receptor (R) FcϵRI, found in its complete form (αβγ2) on the membranes of mast cells and basophils.1
The
Mast cells
The mast cell is a tissue-based inflammatory cell of bone marrow origin that responds to danger signals of innate and acquired immunity with immediate and delayed release of inflammatory mediators.12 Mast cells have long been implicated in the pathology and mortality of anaphylaxis and other allergic disorders by virtue of their ability to be activated through FcϵRI-bound antigen-specific IgE and their concentration at surfaces that interface with the external environment.
The human mast cell is
Basophils
Basophils are granulocytes that are believed to represent a separate lineage from mast cells, despite the fact that the two cell types share many common features, such as high-affinity IgE receptor (FcϵRI) expression, metachromatic staining, TH2 cytokine expression, and histamine release. Basophils represent less than 1% of peripheral blood leukocytes, making them one of the least common cell lineages found in the peripheral blood. Peripheral blood basophil numbers are modestly elevated
Eosinophils
Eosinophils are granulocytes that were first described to stain with acid aniline dyes, such as eosin. Although these cells are rare in the peripheral blood of healthy persons, blood and tissue eosinophilia are hallmark signs of helminth infection, allergy, and asthma. Because of the large body of evidence supporting a critical role in asthma pathogenesis, the eosinophil has emerged as a major therapeutic target for immunologically based asthma therapies.42, 43, 44
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