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IgE plays a critical role during allergic inflammation by sensitizing mast cells and basophils. The number of IgE-expressing B cells and plasma cells is generally very low, and it is therefore difficult to directly study their development and homeostasis. The diversity and persistence of the human IgE repertoire is largely unknown (reviewed in Gadermaier et al). IgE switching can occur directly (IgM=>IgE) or indirectly (IgM=>IgG1=>IgE in mice and IgM=>IgG1/IgG2/IgG3/IgG4=>IgE in humans ). Studies in mice revealed that indirect IgE switching is required for the generation of high-affinity IgE responses. However, current data provide only little evidence that IgE responses in allergic individuals are also dependent on sequential switching (reviewed in Davies et al ). Direct comparisons between the repertoires of IgE and other immunoglobulin isotypes from individual subjects have not been reported. Furthermore, only little information is currently available regarding changes in the IgE repertoire of individual subjects over time.
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