Initiation, Persistence and Exacerbation of Food Allergy

Th2 humoral immunity (IgE) is protective against venoms and parasites but detrimental when mounted against innocuous proteins such as food allergens. The generation of IgE immunity toward harmless allergens is initiated at the body barriers (i.e. mucosae and skin) where the allergen and the immune system first meet. Epithelial cytokines (such as TSLP, IL-25, and IL-33), damage-associated molecular patterns (DAMPs), alarmins, or barrier …