Role of IgE in Asthma

摘要: The prevalence and severity of asthma and other allergic diseases are increasing worldwide, reflected by an increase in asthma-related symptoms, medication usage, and hospital admissions for asthma (1, 2). Asthma is closely associated with atopy, characterized by elevated circulating allergen-specific IgE and positive skinprick responses to allergen testing. Recent epidemiological and immunopathological studies have increased our understanding of the involvement of allergen sensitization and IgE-mediated mechanisms in the genesis and persistence of chronic airway inflammation in asthma. Data also suggest that local IgE-mediated mechanisms may contribute to the chronic airway inflammation of ‘‘intrinsic,’’or nonatopic asthma, where allergen sensitization has not been identified. In this chapter we provide an overview of the current cellular and molecular mechanisms involved in airway inflammation, in …