Immunoglobulin E specific for Baccharis halimifolia pollen allergens (sIgE (B. halimifolia))

Immunoglobulin E (IgE) antibodies specific for Baccharis halimifolia pollen allergens are the primary mediators of Type I hypersensitivity reactions to the Groundsel bush, a shrub prevalent in coastal regions of the eastern and southern United States (Source: PubMed 7142557). These antibodies are produced by plasma cells following sensitization to B. halimifolia pollen proteins and subsequently bind to high-affinity FcεRI receptors on the surface of mast cells and basophils. Upon re-exposure, the allergens cross-link these surface-bound IgE molecules, triggering the degranulation and release of inflammatory mediators such as histamine and leukotrienes, which cause symptoms of allergic rhinitis and asthma (Source: PubMed 16466537). While these specific IgE molecules are diagnostic markers for Baccharis allergy, they are also indirect targets for therapeutic intervention. Drugs like Omalizumab target the entire pool of circulating IgE, including those specific to B. halimifolia, to prevent their binding to effector cells and reduce the allergic inflammatory response (Source: FDA Xolair Label). Additionally, allergen-specific immunotherapy (AIT) aims to modulate the immune system's production of these antibodies, shifting the response toward protective IgG4 antibodies.

Other names

Groundsel bush pollen-specific IgESaltbush pollen-specific IgEBaccharis halimifolia-specific IgEAnti-Baccharis halimifolia IgE

Monoclonal antibodies bind to the Cε3 domain of the IgE molecule, which is the site of binding to the high-affinity IgE receptor (FcεRI), thereby preventing IgE from attaching to mast cells and basophils (Source: PubMed PMC1071282).