Autoantibodies against the High-Affinity IgE Receptor as a Cause of Histamine Release in Chronic Urticaria

Abstract

Histamine-releasing IgG autoantibodies against the alpha subunit of the high-affinity IgE receptor are present in the circulation of some patients with chronic urticaria. Autoantibody-induced cross-linking of IgE receptors may be an important mechanism in the pathogenesis of chronic urticaria and other diseases mediated by mast cells.