Understanding How Food Allergies Work May Lead to the Prevention of Anaphylaxis

An new study has helped researchers a better understand how food allergies cause dangerous anaphylactic reactions. This news could lead to better treatments for severe food allergies. Researchers hope it might one day even prevent anaphylaxis that is caused by food. To understand why the discovery is such a big deal, keep reading.

Researchers from Yale University and Arizona State recently found that the pathway of an allergen is different when it enter the body through food. According to the study, experts used to think that all anaphylactic reactions were caused by a spike in IgE antibodies that occurs when our immune systems incorrectly think an allergen is a threat. The increase in IgE leads to anaphylaxis when our mast cells release histamines. The histamines are supposed to fight the allergen. However, our body over-react to the presence of our allergen. Then the histamines boost causes an “inflammatory response”. This inflammation then causes the symptoms of anaphylaxis like a drop in blood pressure or shrinking of the airways.

However, scientists recently found that allergens brought into the body as a food cause the body to react differently than it does to something like a bee sting. With food allergens, our body responds by producing lipid-based molecules, instead of histamines. In other words, when allergic reactions are caused by food, lipid-based molecules attack the allergen, causing anaphylaxis. The body’s mast cells then release cysteinyl leukotrienes instead of histamines to fight against the allergen threat.

You might be wondering if anaphylaxis happens either way, why does it matter if our mast cells release histamine or cysteinyl leukotrienes? It matters a lot because medications for all allergic reactions are designed to handle histamines. Now, however, scientists understand that food allergy treatments should address the release of leukotrienes, instead of histamines. In addition, the research team hopes the discovery will make it possible to develop treatments that will completely stop fallergic reactions to foods. Thank you to the researchers for trying to make life safer and better for the millions of us living with dangerous food allergies.