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Paris, 12 February 2015
Immune cells commit suicide to prevent allergy
Scientists from the CNRS, INSERM and Université de Limoges, working in the Laboratoire Contrôle de la Réponse Immune B et Lymphoproliférations (CNRS/Université de Limoges)1 have demonstrated that the production of type E immunoglobulins (IgE)2 by B lymphocytes induces a loss in their mobility and the initiation of cell death mechanisms. These antibodies, present in small quantities, are the most powerful "weapons" in the immune system and can trigger extremely violent immune reactions or immediate allergies (asthma, urticaria, allergic shock) as soon as their levels rise, even slightly. These findings, published online in Cell reports on 12 February 2015, thus elucidate how our bodies restrict the production of IgE in order to prevent an allergic reaction.
To download the press release: 
Notes:
1In collaboration with an immunologist from the Laboratoire Microenvironnement et Cancer (INSERM/Université de Rennes 1).
2Immunoglobulins, or antibodies, are proteins secreted by type B lymphocytes in reaction to introduction into an organism of a foreign substance (antigen).
Bibliography:
Self-Restrained B Cells Arise following Membrane IgE Expression. Laffleur et al., 2015, Cell Reports, in press. DOI 10.1016/j.celrep.2015.01.023
Contacts:
Scientist l Michel Cogné l T + 33 05 19 56 42 02 l cogne@unilim.fr
CNRS Press l Alexiane Agullo l T + 33 01 44 96 43 90 l alexiane.agullo@cnrs-dir.fr
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