Novel Potential Immunotherapy Discovered for Food Allergy

Researchers may have discovered a novel immunotherapy for food allergy, according to a report by ScienceDaily. Claudio Nicoletti and his colleagues at the Institute of Food Research in the UK have found that a cytokine molecule, called interleukin (IL)-12, is capable of controlling allergic response to food. The results of their research have been published online in this week's Journal of Allergy and Clinical Immunology.

Food allergy is currently a dangerous and incurable affliction, affecting nearly 4% of adults and 6-8% of children under 4 years of age in the U.S. alone. Peanut and tree nut allergies are the most prevalent and severe, often resulting in death from anaphylactic shock if not treated immediately with injectable adrenaline.

The problem arises when the body identifies a food protein as if it were a pathogen. Immunoglobulin E (IgE), a normal defense against bacterial and viral infection, becomes overproduced, leading to constriction of airways, a drop in blood pressure, and heart palpitations. If not treated with epinephrine, the reaction can worsen to the point of coma or even death.

Nicoletti and his colleagues studied a population of mice susceptible to certain food allergies. The group discovered that a certain class of immune cells, called dendritic cells, had stopped producing IL-12, leading to overproduction of IgE. In comparison, normal mouse dendritic cells produce IL-12, leading to a controlled release of IgE. When an allergen was delivered alongside IL-12 to allergy-susceptible mice, their previous unchecked allergic responses became more manageable and non-life threatening.

Based on these results, Nicoletti is hopeful that a similar treatment may be tested on human subjects.