Biology and dynamics of B cells in the context of IgE‐mediated food allergy

Abstract An increasing number of people suffer from IgE‐mediated food allergies. The immunological mechanisms that cause IgE‐mediated food allergy have been extensively studied. B cells play a key role in the development of IgE‐mediated food allergies through the production of allergen‐specific antibodies. While this particular function of B cells has been known for many years, we still do not fully understand the mechanisms that regulate the induction and maintenance of allergen‐specific IgE production. It is still not fully understood where in the body IgE class switch recombination of food allergen‐specific B cells occurs, and what processes are involved in the immunological memory of allergen‐specific IgE responses. B cells can also contribute to the regulation of allergen‐specific immune responses through other mechanisms such as antigen presentation and cytokine production. Recent technological advances have enabled highly detailed analysis of small subsets of B cells down to the single‐cell level. In this review, we provide an overview of the current knowledge on the biology of B cells in relation to IgE‐mediated food allergies.