In biology, Immunoglobulin E (IgE) is a class of antibody (or immunoglobulin "isotype") that has only been found in mammals. IgE is a monomeric antibody with 4 Ig-like domains (CH1->CH4). [1] It plays an important role in allergy, and is especially associated with type 1 hypersensitivity.[2] IgE has also been implicated in immune system responses to most parasitic worms[3] like Schistosoma mansoni, Trichinella spiralis, and Fasciola hepatica,[4][5][6] and may be important during immune defense against certain protozoan parasites such as Plasmodium falciparum.[7]
Although IgE is typically the least abundant isotype - blood serum IgE levels in a normal ("non-atopic") individual are only 0.05% of the IgG concentration[8], compared to 10 mg/ml for the IgGs (the isotypes responsible for most of the classical adaptive immune response) - it is capable of triggering the most powerful immune reactions.
IgE was discovered in 1966 by the Japanese scientist couple Teruka and Kimishige Ishizaka.[
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