New treatments and the future role of immunotherapy: anti-IgE.
OBJECTIVE
The review outlines an overview of anti-IgE, along with a description of the production and mechanism of action of the finished molecule. The immunologic effect of the drug and the drug complexes are detailed, and proof of efficacy is offered. The review also speculates about the role of anti-IgE in clinical use, along with potential future therapies, including gene substitution and genetic alteration.


METHODS
The author reviewed literature studying IgE and anti-IgE antibody.


METHODS
The expert opinion of the author was used to select relevant data.


RESULTS
The injection of anti-IgE results in four proven reactions: free antibody is bound; not bound antibody is not dislodged to any degree; plasma B cell production of IgE drops; and high-affinity Fc epsilon RI and low-affinity Fc epsilon RII on mast cells and basophils are downregulated.


CONCLUSIONS
Based on observation of clinical reaction, anti-IgE is truly immunotherapy. Current opinion among clinical investigators about the impact of the impending approval of this new drug is that it will not replace standard immunotherapy. How it will fit into the armamentarium of physicians dealing with allergic disease, and protocols for its use, are still being debated.
Lanier
B
B
Lanier Education and Research Network, Fort Worth, TX, USA. drboblanier@askdrbob.com
D000888:Antibodies, Anti-Idiotypic / Q000502:physiology; D005544:Forecasting; D006801:Humans; D007167:Immunotherapy / Q000639:trends*
D000888:Antibodies, Anti-Idiotypic; C026408:anti-IgE antibodies