Asthma and the predisposition to produce IgE are inherited as linked traits in families. In
patients IgE levels correlate with asthma severity and bronchial hyperresponsiveness. The
concept that IgE plays a critical role in asthma pathogenesis has driven the development of
IgE blockers, which are currently being introduced into clinical use. This review focuses on
the mechanisms whereby IgE participates both in immediate hypersensitivity responses in
the airways and in the induction of chronic allergic bronchial inflammation. The molecular …