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The origin of IgE memory and plasma cells

Cellular & Molecular Immunology volume 9, pages 373–374 (2012)Cite this article

IgE antibodies are involved not only in the immune defense against parasites, but also in the pathogenesis of allergic diseases and anaphylaxis. Allergen-induced crosslinking of IgE bound to FcεR1 on mast cells triggers degranulation and may initiate an allergic reaction.1 Although IgE is a major player in allergic responses, IgE regulation and the molecular pathway underlying IgE+ B-cell maturation remains elusive. In an exciting report published in the April issue of Nature Immunology, Talay and colleagues demonstrate a new model for IgE switching and memory in vivo.2 In contrast to the current paradigm, IgE+ memory B cells and plasma cells develop through a germinal-center (GC) IgE+ intermediate, without the need of a transitional IgG1 phase. Furthermore, IgE+ memory B cells, and not IgG1+ memory B cells, are the source of cellular IgE memory.

The typical immune response to T cell-dependent antigens starts with B-cell differentiation into short-lived plasma cells that produce low-affinity antibodies, followed by the formation of GCs that are the origin of both memory B cells and long-lived plasma cells that produce high-affinity antibodies.3 Previous studies reported a pathway of IgE B-cell maturation that is distinct from the classical model of B-cell differentiation.4,5 IgE+ B cells were not found in GCs nevertheless differentiated into high-affinity plasma cells. It was proposed that GC IgG1+ intermediates switched to IgE+ plasma cells outside the GCs.4 This model was strengthened by the observation that IgG1-deficient mice were impaired in producing high-affinity IgE.5 Moreover, cellular IgE memory was reported to reside in IgG1+ memory B cells which undergo a sequential switch to IgE after re-exposure to antigen.4

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  1. Department of Tumor Immunology, Nijmegen Centre for Molecular Life Sciences, Radboud University Nijmegen Medical Centre, Nijmegen, The Netherlands

    Malou Zuidscherwoude & Annemiek B van Spriel

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  1. Malou Zuidscherwoude
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  2. Annemiek B van Spriel
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Correspondence to Annemiek B van Spriel.

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Zuidscherwoude, M., van Spriel, A. The origin of IgE memory and plasma cells. Cell Mol Immunol 9, 373–374 (2012). https://doi.org/10.1038/cmi.2012.21

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