| abstract |
Compositions are administered to block IgE binding to receptors and ultimately displace native IgE from mast cells and related cell types, to prevent the activation of these cells during an allergic response. The compositions consist of a pharmaceutically acceptable carrier for systemic or local administration and an amount of compound binding specifically to the FcεRI IgE binding sites, and more preferably, FcεRI and FcεRII IgE binding sites, to prevent activation and degranulation of mast cells in response to exposure to allergens. The compounds can consist of IgE molecules and fragments and modifications thereof, such as IgE fragments, humanized or single chain IgE antibodies or fragments thereof, IgE with a modified Fab, non-cross-linkable IgE, or peptidomimetics which bind to the same site on the receptor as the IgE, jointly referred to herein as 'IgE fragments' unless otherwise stated. |