The role of antiglobulins in IgG4-mediated allergic diseases.

Although IgG4 (or at least one of its variants) does have receptors on basophils, this IgG subclass apparently cannot mediate an allergen-triggered release of mediators. Evidence is now available to suggest that IgG4-bearing basophils can be "fired off" to release histamine with an IgM anti-IgG which is frequently found in atopic patients. If an autoimmune process of the kind described here can contribute to the pathological changes in atopic disorder, then a whole new approach to the diagnosis and treatment of allergic disease must be considered.