Antibodies targeting IgE Cε2 domain show promise for rapid allergy relief

Researchers identify antibody fragments capable of removing immunoglobulin E bound to mast cells, revealing a potentially fast-acting therapy for severe allergic diseases. Credit: Tomoaki Ando of Juntendo University

Allergic diseases represent a major global health burden, placing significant strain on health care systems worldwide. Severe conditions such as anaphylaxis, asthma, food allergy, and allergic rhinitis are driven by immunoglobulin E (IgE), an antibody that binds to immune cells including mast cells and basophils.

When IgE remains attached to these cells, it sustains exaggerated immune responses to allergens. Although current anti-allergy therapies can neutralize free IgE in the bloodstream, they cannot efficiently remove IgE already bound to immune cells, delaying the onset of clinical benefit.

IgE contains a unique immunoglobulin-like domain, Cε2, which stabilizes its interaction with the high-affinity receptor FcεRI that anchors IgE to the surface of mast cells and basophils.

New antibody fragments target IgE

In a study published in The Journal of Allergy and Clinical Immunology, researchers led by Associate Professor Tomoaki Ando and Professor Jiro Kitaura at Juntendo University Graduate School of Medicine, in collaboration with Toshiaki Maruyama of Abwiz Bio Inc., identified Fab (fragment antigen-binding) antibody fragments that target the IgE Cε2 domain and disrupt the IgE–FcεRI complex, effectively stripping IgE from mast cells.

“Previous studies in mice suggested that targeting the Cε2 domain could suppress IgE-dependent mast cell activation, yet whether this strategy could be applied to human IgE remained unclear due to substantial species differences between human and murine IgE. This gap in knowledge prompted us to ask whether the human IgE Cε2 domain could be exploited as a novel therapeutic target to destabilize IgE–receptor interactions,” explains Dr. Ando.

To systematically investigate antibodies against the human IgE Cε2 domain, the researchers generated Fab antibody libraries from immunized rabbits and screened them for activity against pre-formed IgE–FcεRI complexes. This approach revealed marked differences among Fab clones in their ability to destabilize IgE–receptor interactions. The most potent Fab fragments efficiently removed IgE already bound to mast cell surface receptors.

Potential for rapid allergy treatments

The team further evaluated whether these Fab antibody fragments could suppress IgE-driven allergic reactions in FcεRI-humanized mouse models. Their experiments showed that the most effective Fab clones significantly reduced allergic responses and inflammation in vivo, demonstrating both cellular and physiological efficacy.

“The study demonstrates, for the first time, that the Cε2 domain of human IgE is a viable therapeutic target, and identifies multiple antibody fragments that show rapid efficacy in cellular assays and in vivo anaphylaxis models,” explains Dr. Ando.

“The most immediate real-world application of our findings is the development of a next-generation antibody therapy for allergic diseases that require rapid and reliable symptom control. In addition, this strategy could be applied in clinical settings where temporary but rapid desensitization is needed, such as before allergen exposure during immunotherapy or medical procedures,” he adds.

IgE circulates at low levels in human serum, enabling efficient neutralization of free IgE by existing therapies. However, their inability to remove IgE already bound to mast cells has remained a key limitation in achieving rapid symptom control.

Antibody-based strategies targeting the human Cε2 domain may help overcome this challenge by directly destabilizing IgE–receptor complexes, although further studies will be required to confirm their clinical safety and efficacy.