The role of immunoglobulin E-binding epitopes in the characterization of food allergy

PURPOSE OF REVIEW: Allergen-specific immunoglobulin E (IgE) antibodies play a central role in food allergic reactions. IgE epitope mapping of food allergens may provide information regarding patient's clinical history and contribute to food allergy diagnosis/prognosis. The goal of this article is to review recent developments in the methods for IgE epitope mapping and the role of IgE-binding epitopes in the characterization of food allergy. RECENT FINDINGS: Recent studies have suggested a potential role for sequential IgE-binding epitopes as biomarkers for characterizing various phenotypes of food allergy. Studies of allergens in milk, peanut, egg and wheat have shown a correlation between IgE sequential epitope diversity and patients' allergy severity or persistence. Several informative epitopes in milk allergens have been identified as candidate biomarkers to predict the development of tolerance to milk. However, limitations with current methods of IgE-binding epitope identification need to be addressed before they can be applied in the diagnosis/prognosis of food allergy. SUMMARY: IgE epitope mapping has the potential to become an additional tool for the diagnosis/prognosis of food allergy and lead to a better understanding of the pathogenesis and tolerance induction of food allergy.