New Effective Allergy Therapies May Be Soon Available

According to a new study, published in the July 18 issue of the leading medical journal Immunity, new effective allergy therapies may be soon available. The findings were made by a team of researchers and scientists, from at New York University School of Medicine, and led by Dr. M. A. C. de Lafaille in Dr. Juan Lafaille's Lab.

According to the new study, a new type of immune cells that block allergic reactions, were discovered. These new class of immune cells, known as regulatory T cells, each time we ingest (in our food) or breathe (in the air) a potential allergenic chemical compound. Then, the next time the same compound enter the organism, it is recognized, and eliminated accordingly so we do not have, again, an allergic reaction.

You see, allergy is a defense mechanism against external threats. Our body is designed to respond to these threats with a myriad of biochemical pathways and reactions. These responses allow our bodies to remain protected. Ii is like the organism is able to "remember" all previously identified allergens and act against them.

The new study point out that a new class of T cells have been identified. These are specifically encoded by a very particular gene, the Foxp3 gene, which it is swithed on whenever a new invader comes in.

Dr. de Lafaille's research shows how the new identified compounds (Treg), which comes from the expression of the Foxp3 gene are manufactured right in your nose (in the mucosal tissue) and stay there to "recall" and prevent allergic reactions. Also, these T-cells are produced in our intestine mucosal tissue.

According to Dr. de Lafaille study, sometimes things go wrong with this gene and the Foxp3 produces Treg cell with no need to do it. Then an allergy reaction occurs when there is not an actual threat.

The study mention that understanding this specific Treg gene-oriented expression may be the key to more effective therapies for allergy patients. In fact these T-cells could be manufactured and injected to people who need them or the actual biochemical pathway could be regulated so as to regulate the reaction of the patient.