image: Food antigens drive spontaneous IgE elevation in the absence of commensal microbiota. Studies with germ-free (GF) mice fed an elemental (antigen-free) diet (designated as antigen-free mice) revealed that spontaneous IgE elevation in GF and antibiotics-treated mice is driven by food antigens through the generation of IL-4-producing TFH cells in gut-associated lymphoid tissues, Peyer's patches and mesenteric lymph nodes (MLNs). Early life is highly favorable for TFH cell generation in response to food antigens. This material relates to a paper that appeared in the May 22nd, 2019, issue of Science Advances, published by AAAS. The paper, by S.-W. Hong at Institute for Basic Science (IBS) in Pohang, Republic of Korea, and colleagues was titled, "Food antigens drive spontaneous IgE elevation in the absence of commensal microbiota." view more
Credit: [Credit: Academy of Immunology and Microbiology, Institute for Basic Science, Pohang, Republic of Korea]