Pathophysiology of IgE-Mediated Food Allergy

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The duality of Thl and Th2 T-helper cells that exists in murine animals probably also exists in humans (14). It has been postulated that IL-4 enhancement promotes the development of IgE-mediated hypersensitivity disorders such as food allergy, while the combination of defective INF-y with enhanced IL-4 production promotes inflammatory atopic disorders such as atopic dermatitis and asthma. IgE irmnunoregulation suggests that the magnitude of the IgE response to persistent allergens depend upon this balance between T-helper cells and their cytokine production. However, environmental and other as yet unidentified factors also contribute to the allergic state of the predisposed individual. 

Major Foods/Allergens Involved with IgE-Mediated Disease 

Hippocrates (469-370 b.c.) was the first person to report that cow s milk could cause upset stomach and hives. He recognized that only certain men reacted adversely to cheese and suggested that these men produced an unusual body substance ( humour ) that caused them to react Cheese does not harm all men alike some can eat their fill of it without the slightest hurt, nay, those it agrees with are wonderfully strengthened thereby. Others come off badly. So the constituents of these men differ, and the difference lies in the constituent of the body which is hostile to cheese, and is roused and stirred to action under its influence. Those in whom a humour of such kind is present in greater quantity and with greater control over the body naturally suffer more severely. But if cheese were bad for the human constitution without exception it would hurt aU.  

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