title: A beneficial role for immunoglobulin E in host defense against honeybee venom.
abstract: Allergies are widely considered to be misdirected type 2 immune responses, in which immunoglobulin E (IgE) antibodies are produced against any of a broad range of seemingly harmless antigens. However, components of insect venoms also can sensitize individuals to develop severe IgE-associated allergic reactions, including fatal anaphylaxis, upon subsequent venom exposure. We found that mice injected with amounts of honeybee venom similar to that which could be delivered in one or two stings developed a specific type 2 immune response that increased their resistance to subsequent challenge with potentially lethal amounts of the venom. Our data indicate that IgE antibodies and the high affinity IgE receptor, FcεRI, were essential for such acquired resistance to honeybee venom. The evidence that IgE-dependent immune responses against venom can enhance survival in mice supports the hypothesis that IgE, which also contributes to allergic disorders, has an important function in protection of the host against noxious substances.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pathology, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, CA 94305, USA.
authors.forename: Thomas
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Marichal
authors.forename: Philipp
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Starkl
authors.forename: Laurent L
authors.initials: LL
authors.lastname: Reber
authors.forename: Janet
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Kalesnikoff
authors.forename: Hans C
authors.initials: HC
authors.lastname: Oettgen
authors.forename: Mindy
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Tsai
authors.forename: Martin
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Metz
authors.forename: Stephen J
authors.initials: SJ
authors.lastname: Galli
mesh_terms: D000707:Anaphylaxis / Q000209:etiology / Q000276:immunology / Q000517:prevention & control; D000818:Animals; D001514:Bee Venoms / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000276:immunology / Q000627:therapeutic use / Q000633:toxicity*; D003888:Desensitization, Immunologic; D004306:Dose-Response Relationship, Immunologic; D000939:Epitopes; D005260:Female; D006967:Hypersensitivity / Q000276:immunology*; D007116:Immunization, Passive; D007073:Immunoglobulin E / Q000096:biosynthesis / Q000276:immunology*; D007074:Immunoglobulin G / Q000096:biosynthesis / Q000276:immunology; D008407:Mast Cells / Q000276:immunology; D051379:Mice; D008807:Mice, Inbred BALB C; D008810:Mice, Inbred C57BL; D008822:Mice, Transgenic; D018448:Models, Immunological; D017455:Receptors, IgE / Q000276:immunology; D017840:Daboia; D018418:Th2 Cells / Q000276:immunology; D014757:Viper Venoms / Q000276:immunology / Q000633:toxicity
chemical_list: D001514:Bee Venoms; D000939:Epitopes; D007074:Immunoglobulin G; D017455:Receptors, IgE; D014757:Viper Venoms; D007073:Immunoglobulin E