IgE is the antibody isotype found at the lowest concentration in the circulation. However IgE can undeniably play an important role in mediating allergic reactions; best exemplified by the clinical benefits of anti-IgE monoclonal antibody (omalizumab) therapy for some allergic diseases. This review will describe our current understanding of the interactions between IgE and its main receptors FcεRI and CD23 (FcεRII). We will review the known and potential functions of IgE in health and disease: in particular, its detrimental roles in allergic diseases and chronic spontaneous urticaria, and its protective functions in host defense against parasites and venoms. Finally, we will present an overview of the drugs that are in clinical development or have therapeutic potential for IgE-mediated allergic diseases.

IgE是循环中最低浓度的抗体同种型。但是，IgE在介导变态反应中不可否认地起着重要作用。抗IgE单克隆抗体（omalizumab）治疗某些过敏性疾病的临床益处就是最好的例证。这篇综述将描述我们目前对IgE及其主要受体FcεRI和CD23（FcεRII）之间相互作用的理解。我们将回顾IgE在健康和疾病中的已知和潜在功能：尤其是IgE在变应性疾病和慢性自发性荨麻疹中的有害作用，以及其在宿主防御寄生虫和毒液中的保护功能。最后，我们将概述临床上正在开发的或对IgE介导的过敏性疾病具有治疗潜力的药物。