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Updated: Apr 20, 2026

Removal and Replacement of Endogenous Ligands from Lipid-Bound Proteins and Allergens
Published on: February 24, 2021
Carbohydrates as allergens
1Departments of Internal Medicine and Pediatrics, Divisions of Allergy, Asthma and Immunology and Gastroenterology, University of Virginia Health System, PO Box 801355, Charlottesville, VA, 22908, USA, scottcommins@virginia.edu.
Abstract:
Complex carbohydrates are effective inducers of Th2 responses, and carbohydrate antigens can stimulate the production of glycan-specific antibodies. In instances where the antigen exposure occurs through the skin, the resulting antibody production can contain IgE class antibody. The glycan-stimulated IgE may be non-specific but may also be antigen specific. This review focuses on the production of cross-reactive carbohydrate determinants, the recently identified IgE antibody response to a mammalian oligosaccharide epitope, galactose-alpha-1,3-galactose (alpha-gal), as well as discusses practical implications of carbohydrates in allergy. In addition, the biological effects of carbohydrate antigens are reviewed in setting of receptors and host recognition.
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