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Allergy: A Model for Studying the Genetics of Human Immune Response

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Book cover Molecular and Biological Aspects of the Acute Allergic Reaction

Abstract

Natural Selection of IgE Production and Immune Response.

In the economically well-developed nations, IgE-mediated atopic allergy tends to be regarded as a nuisance disease, which causes widespread morbidity in about 20% of the adult population (1), but low mortality. Conversely, in under-developed cultures, allergy is known to occur quite infrequently (e.g. 2–4), usually in well under 10% of the population. In the developed world, I seems to serve a detrimental rather than a useful purpose, but in more primitive societies it seems to be playing a vital, although not yet clearly defined, role in conferring resistance to parasitic infestations, especially helminths. The latter assumption is based on the widespread elevation in total serum IgE levels in people living in areas where parasitic diseases are endemic (5), as well as on several animal experiments which suggest a direct or indirect protective role for IgE (6–9). In a bizarre human “experiment” a small group of Canadian students were purposely infested with ascaris by a disturbed roommate. The ones who responded with the highest I levels had the least worms (10).

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Author information

Author notes

  1. David G. Marsh

    Present address: National Institute of Medical Research, NW7 1AA, Mill Hill, London, England

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Division of Clinical Immunology, The Good Samaritan Hospital, 21239, Baltimore, Maryland, USA

    David G. Marsh

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  1. David G. Marsh
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  1. University Hospital, Uppsala, Sweden

    S. G. O. Johansson

  2. Karolinska Institute, Stockholm, Sweden

    Kjell Strandberg  & Börje Uvnäs  & 

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© 1976 Plenum Press, New York

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Marsh, D.G. (1976). Allergy: A Model for Studying the Genetics of Human Immune Response. In: Johansson, S.G.O., Strandberg, K., Uvnäs, B. (eds) Molecular and Biological Aspects of the Acute Allergic Reaction. Springer, Boston, MA. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4613-4304-2_2

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4613-4304-2_2

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