Immunogenetic Aspects of IgE-Mediated Responses

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Abstract
Atopic allergy is a multifactorial disease, and is dependent on several genetic determinants as well as a complex array of environmental factors. A clear causal relationship has been established between the clinical expression of specific allergies and the induction of specific IgE antibody (Ab) responses.1 Several studies have provided evidence for at least two types of genetic control of IgE responses in humans, namely, non-MHC-linked control of the overall production of IgE and MHC-linked control of specific immune responses.2 Since T cells and T-cell cytokines are important in the regulation of IgE synthesis, a detailed investigation of the role of T cells in controlling the synthesis of IgE, and the genetic regulation of various IgE-modulating cytokine genes should provide some useful approaches toward solving the complex problem of the genetic control of IgE production. We have focused on the immunogenetic controls of specific Ab responsiveness to allergens, where the relevant genes clearly include MHC class II (HLA-D), TcR specificity-determining genes. The allergens we studied included a group of “minor” inhalant allergens (relative molecular mass, Mr = ca 4400–5000).