title: Immunoregulation in allergy: the potential of anti-IgE antibodies of IL-4 antagonists for the treatment of allergic diseases.
abstract: IL-4 plays a crucial role in the induction of allergic responses, not only in inducing the switch of B cells to the production of IgE antibodies but also in promoting the differentiation of T cells to the TH2 phenotype leading to the production of IL-4 and IL-5. Initially, IL-4 may be provided by basophils and/or mast cells which have been shown to produce IL-4 as a consequence of IgE receptor-mediated stimulation. However, after immunization IgE+B cells may persist for a prolonged period leading to further IgE responses which are IL-4-independent. In order to achieve inhibition of IgE, independent of the nature of the allergen and independent of the state of immunization, non-anaphylactogenic anti-IgE antibodies have been generated, which were shown to inhibit IgE in vivo without inducing anaphylactic reactions. A corresponding humanized (mouse-human chimeric) anti-human IgE antibody has been generated in collaboration between Tanox Biosystems and Ciba. This antibody is now under clinical investigation for the potential treatment of allergic rhinitis.
authors.affiliation: Ciba-Geigy Ltd., Basel, Switzerland.
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Heusser
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000906:Antibodies / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D001402:B-Lymphocytes / Q000276:immunology; D006801:Humans; D006967:Hypersensitivity / Q000628:therapy*; D007073:Immunoglobulin E / Q000276:immunology*; D007156:Immunologic Memory; D015847:Interleukin-4 / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors* / Q000096:biosynthesis; D017455:Receptors, IgE / Q000502:physiology; D018418:Th2 Cells / Q000276:immunology
chemical_list: D000906:Antibodies; D017455:Receptors, IgE; D015847:Interleukin-4; D007073:Immunoglobulin E