title: Molecular mechanisms of IgE regulation.
abstract: IgE antibody plays an important role in allergic diseases. IgE synthesis by B cells requires two signals. The first signal is delivered by the cytokines IL-4 or IL-13, which target the Cepsilon gene for switch recombination. The second signal is delivered by interaction of the B cell surface antigen CD40 with its ligand (CD40L) expressed on activated T cells. This activates deletional switch recombination. We review the molecular mechanisms of IL-4 and CD40 signaling that lead to IgE isotype switching and discuss the implications for intervening to abort or suppress the IgE antibody response.
authors.affiliation: Division of Immunology, Children's Hospital, Department of Pediatrics, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02115, USA.
authors.forename: L B
authors.initials: LB
authors.lastname: Bacharier
authors.forename: R S
authors.initials: RS
authors.lastname: Geha
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001402:B-Lymphocytes / Q000502:physiology*; D019013:CD40 Antigens / Q000378:metabolism / Q000502:physiology; D023201:CD40 Ligand; D015321:Gene Rearrangement; D006801:Humans; D007073:Immunoglobulin E / Q000378:metabolism / Q000502:physiology*; D018793:Interleukin-13 / Q000502:physiology; D015847:Interleukin-4 / Q000502:physiology; D008562:Membrane Glycoproteins / Q000378:metabolism; D008954:Models, Biological; D015398:Signal Transduction; D013601:T-Lymphocytes / Q000502:physiology
chemical_list: D019013:CD40 Antigens; D018793:Interleukin-13; D008562:Membrane Glycoproteins; D023201:CD40 Ligand; D015847:Interleukin-4; D007073:Immunoglobulin E