T FOLLICULAR REGULATORY CELLS CONTROL THE IGE RESPONSE

Abstract

One of the main mediators of allergic reactions and a primary cause of allergy illness in humans is allergen-specific IgE. It would be beneficial to reduce the prevalence of allergic illness by using therapies that block the formation of IgE. The regulation of IgE reactions has been the subject of extensive study, and a number of variables that encourage the synthesis of allergic IgE have been identified. The formation of IgE-producing B cells in the germinal center (GC) depends on T follicular helper (TFH) cells expressing IL-4. Anaphylaxis, a strong allergic reaction, is encouraged by high affinity allergen-specific IgE that is developed as a result of Ig somatic hypermutation and B cell selection in the GC. In the GC response, T follicular regulatory (TFR) cells are also present. They collaborate with TFH cells to select high affinity IgE + B cells. The literature on TFR cells and IgE reactions is reviewed in this study. TFR cells have been shown in animal studies to have a suppressive effect on IgE responses in allergic airway illness; yet, they also assist in the IgE response in food allergies. TFR cells have been linked in human studies to a reduced allergic reaction; nevertheless, there is insufficient data to support a direct suppressive function of TFR cells on IgE in vivo. TFR cells might be a novel target for allergy treatments, however care must be taken to encourage TFR cells' suppressor rather than their helper functions.\