title: Molecular Mechanisms of IgE Class Switch Recombination.
abstract: Immunoglobulin (Ig) E is the most tightly regulated of all Ig heavy chain (IgH) isotypes and plays a key role in atopic disease. The gene encoding for IgH in mature B cells consists of a variable region exon-assembled from component gene segments via V(D)J recombination during early B cell development-upstream of a set of IgH constant region CH exons. Upon activation by antigen in peripheral lymphoid organs, B cells can undergo IgH class switch recombination (CSR), a process in which the initially expressed IgH μ constant region exons (Cμ) are deleted and replaced by one of several sets of downstream CH exons (e.g., Cγ, Cε, and Cα). Activation of the IL-4 receptor on B cells, together with other signals, can lead to the replacement of Cμ with Cε resulting in CSR to IgE through a series of molecular events involving irreversible remodeling of the IgH locus. Here, we discuss the molecular mechanisms of CSR and the unique features surrounding the generation of IgE-producing B cells.
authors.affiliation: Department of Medicine, Division of Rheumatology, Immunology and Allergy, Brigham and Women's Hospital and Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, 02115, USA.
authors.forename: Pei
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Tong
authors.forename: Duane R
authors.initials: DR
authors.lastname: Wesemann
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D006801:Humans; D017578:Immunoglobulin Class Switching; D007073:Immunoglobulin E / Q000235:genetics*; D007143:Immunoglobulin Heavy Chains / Q000235:genetics; D014158:Transcription, Genetic
chemical_list: D007143:Immunoglobulin Heavy Chains; D007073:Immunoglobulin E