title: IgE and mast cells in host defense against parasites and venoms.
abstract: IgE-dependent mast cell activation is a major effector mechanism underlying the pathology associated with allergic disorders. The most dramatic of these IgE-associated disorders is the fatal anaphylaxis which can occur in some people who have developed IgE antibodies to otherwise innocuous antigens, such as those contained in certain foods and medicines. Why would such a highly "maladaptive" immune response develop in evolution and be retained to the present day? Host defense against parasites has long been considered the only beneficial function that might be conferred by IgE and mast cells. However, recent studies have provided evidence that, in addition to participating in host resistance to certain parasites, mast cells and IgE are critical components of innate (mast cells) and adaptive (mast cells and IgE) immune responses that can enhance host defense against the toxicity of certain arthropod and animal venoms, including enhancing the survival of mice injected with such venoms. Yet, in some people, developing IgE antibodies to insect or snake venoms puts them at risk for having a potentially fatal anaphylactic reaction upon subsequent exposure to such venoms. Delineating the mechanisms underlying beneficial versus detrimental innate and adaptive immune responses associated with mast cell activation and IgE is likely to enhance our ability to identify potential therapeutic targets in such settings, not only for reducing the pathology associated with allergic disorders but perhaps also for enhancing immune protection against pathogens and animal venoms.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pathology, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, California 94305-5324, USA.|Sean N. Parker Center for Allergy and Asthma Research, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, California 94305-5324, USA.
authors.forename: Kaori
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Mukai
authors.affiliation: Department of Pathology, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, California 94305-5324, USA.|Sean N. Parker Center for Allergy and Asthma Research, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, California 94305-5324, USA.
authors.forename: Mindy
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Tsai
authors.affiliation: CeMM Research Center for Molecular Medicine of the Austrian Academy of Sciences, and Department of Medicine I, Medical University of Vienna, 1090 Vienna, Austria.
authors.forename: Philipp
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Starkl
authors.affiliation: Laboratory of Cellular and Molecular Immunology, GIGA-Research and Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Liège, 4000 Liège, Belgium.
authors.forename: Thomas
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Marichal
authors.affiliation: Department of Pathology, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, California 94305-5324, USA.|Sean N. Parker Center for Allergy and Asthma Research, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, California 94305-5324, USA.|Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, California 94305-5324, USA.
authors.forename: Stephen J
authors.initials: SJ
authors.lastname: Galli
mesh_terms: D000707:Anaphylaxis / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism; D000818:Animals; D060467:Disease Resistance / Q000276:immunology; D006373:Helminthiasis / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism / Q000469:parasitology; D006376:Helminths / Q000276:immunology; D006790:Host-Parasite Interactions / Q000276:immunology*; D006801:Humans; D006967:Hypersensitivity / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism; D007113:Immunity, Innate; D007073:Immunoglobulin E / Q000276:immunology*; D007411:Intestinal Diseases, Parasitic / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism; D008407:Mast Cells / Q000276:immunology* / Q000378:metabolism*; D010271:Parasites / Q000276:immunology; D010272:Parasitic Diseases / Q000276:immunology / Q000635:transmission; D018418:Th2 Cells / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism; D014688:Venoms / Q000276:immunology*
chemical_list: D014688:Venoms; D007073:Immunoglobulin E
keywords: Allergy; Anaphylaxis; Parasites; Serine proteases; Toxins; Venoms