Immunoglobulin E (IgE) Regulation and Biology

immunoglobulin e
Normally present at very low levels in plasma, antibodies of the immunoglobulin E (IgE) isotype were first discovered in 1967, decades after the description of IgA, IgG, and IM. IgE antibodies are produced primarily by plasma cells in mucosal-associated lymphoid tissue and their levels are uniformly elevated in patients suffering from atopic conditions like allergic rhinitis, asthma and atopic dermatitis. Production of allergen-specific IgE in atopic individuals is driven both by a genetic predisposition to the synthesis of this isotype as well as by environmental factors, including chronic allergen exposure. (more…)

Allergic Reactions To Penicillin and Skin Test Evaluation via Intradermal Injection

Intradermal Injection
This study compared the diagnostic value of intradermal tests and patch tests in 20 patients with non-immediate reactions to penicillin (none had IgE antibodies to benzylpenicillin or amoxicillin detectable using a commercial RAST [radioallergosorbent test] method), using 30 patients tolerant to penicillin as controls. Intradermal tests assessed reactivity to injection of major and minor determinants of benzylpenicillin, amoxicillin and ampicillin. Allergy patch testing involved the same hapten solutions used for intradermal testing, either embedded in a patch disk or mixed with petrolatum. (more…)

Allergen Vaccine and Allergenic Source of Material

Allergen Vaccine
Being an immunological disease, the characteristics of allergy are those of specificity and memory. Regardless of whether the clinical manifestation is rhinoconjunctivitis, rhinitis, or asthma, the underlying immunological response disorder is based on the adverse reactions of cells in the immune system upon contact with allergens. These cells are specific for epitopes that are structural parts of allergens present in the allergenic source material. Two types of cells (i.e., T cells and B-cells) produce receptor molecules (i.e., T-cell receptors and immunoglobulin [IgE] antibodies) that, through high-affinity interactions with the allergen, efficiently catalyze the presence of even minute amounts of allergens into clinical symptoms, the extreme consequence of which may be life-threatening to the patient. (more…)

Cow’s Milk Allergy: Immune Response to Protein in Milk

milk allergy

Cow’s milk is the most frequently encountered food allergen in infancy, and milk allergy is often the earliest indicator that a baby is atopic. Precise figures of the incidence of cow’s milk allergy are hard to find because of the difficulties in obtaining an accurate diagnosis, differences in the populations used for research studies, and disagreement about allergy symptoms (clinical criteria) for the condition. All studies agree, however, that cow’s milk allergy is most prevalent in early childhood with an incidence of 2 to 7.5 percent being reported. (more…)

Cow’s Milk Allergy: IgE-Mediated Allergy or Lactose Intolerance?

cow milk allergy

Cow’s milk allergy results when antibodies against milk allergens are produced by the immune system.

Milk allergens are proteins; more than 25 distinct milk proteins have been identified in the various fractions of milk. The fractions include casein, whey, serum, and certain additional ingredients. (more…)

What is Extrinsic Allergic Alveolitis (Hypersensitivity Pneumonitis) ?

Hypersensitivity Pneumonitis
Extrinsic allergic alveolitis (synonym: hypersensitivity pneumonitis) describes an interstitial and bronchioloalveolar disease of the lungs caused by an immune mediated hypersensitivity response. It is associated with repeated exposure to a variety of inhaled organic dusts and reactive chemicals (allergy chemical), but only a proportion of exposed subjects become affected. Notable examples are farmers’ lung (due to actinomycetes contaminating farm produce) and bird fanciers’ lung (due to secreted avian antigens). The disease has considerable potential as a model of allergic lung disease, since the populations at risk can often be identified precisely, the relevant antigens can be purified, and the clinical and immunologic consequences of antigen exposure can be examined. (more…)

Drug Allergy Reaction Classification – Immune Reactions

drug allergy reaction
Drug allergy reactions may be classified, at least theoretically, according to one of four implicated immunologic mechanisms, according to the scheme of Gell and Coombs:

Type I Drug Allergy Reactions

Type I reactions are the result of an IgE antibody reaction, which induces immediate-type hypersensitivity reactions. (more…)

Antibodies and the Immune Response - Human Immune System

antibodies immune response

B cells

The main function of B cells is to produce antibodies. Antibodies are complex molecules produced by the immune system in response to antigens. As mentioned previously, antigens are foreign proteins or glycoproteins (a sugar linked to a protein) that trigger the immune response. Every living cell produces several different proteins, each unique to its own cell type and species. The antibody produced against the antigen is entirely specific to that antigen. (more…)

Antibodies in Food Sensitivity – IgG Antibody

antibody food sensitivity
It is common to find anti-food IgG antibodies circulating in blood, even in people who have no signs or history of adverse reactions to foods. In fact, some authorities think that an increase in anti-food IgG in some cases might be indicative of successful resolution of an IgE-mediated allergy. The subject of IgG-mediated food allergy is extremely complicated because of the nature of the antibody and the immunological reactions associated with it. The present knowledge about food allergy-associated IgG may be summarized as follows: (more…)

Food Allergies and Intolerance — Basic Mechanisms

food-allergy-food-intoleranceOur current knowledge for trigger factor and food allergy intolerance is still in it infancy level. We already known that the allergic intolerance are different for groups of people. Some individuals are less resistant in developing allergy than others. Allergic sensitivity or atopic allergic disease are heritable and this means that genetic factors is playing a critical role. But the latest researches reveal that it is not merely heredity factors, environmental also have significant impact for someone to develop allergy.

Allergy trigger in the form of food allergen are mostly fallen to some certain foods like milk, egg, peanuts, fish, soya and nuts. We are curios on what is so peculiar about allergens in food? (more…)

Next Page »