One step closer to ‘deleting’ allergies as scientists pinpoint the pesky cells that ‘remember’ allergens
SCIENTISTS may be able to cure allergies one day by deleting the immune cells that cause them, research suggests.
The cells can be the difference between why some allergies fade over time and others last sufferers’ whole lives, scientists found.
Two back-to-back studies — one on children, the other adults — found a new type of immune cell that hadn’t been tied to allergies before.
Professor Maria Curotto De Lafaille, of Mount Sinai Hospital in New York, told Live Science: “These cells may be analysed as sort of a biological marker for risk of allergy or allergy persistence.”
Britain has one of the highest levels of allergic conditions in the world, with one in five Brits affected by at least one disorder, according to Allergy UK.
The conditions are caused by the body's immune system overreacting, and can be set off by allergies to anything from foods, like nuts or shellfish, to general anaesthetic.
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Warning signs include feeling lightheaded or faint, difficulty breathing, a raised heartbeat, clammy skin and confusion or anxiety.
If someone is suffering from it, you may need to use an adrenaline auto-injector on them if they have one and you know how to use it, according to the NHS.
Ambulances should also be rung immediately.
The first study, published in Science Translational Medicine, looked at how memory B cells trigger immune responses in people with long-term allergies.
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Researchers analysed blood samples from 58 children who were allergic to peanuts and 13 who weren’t.
They found a subset of memory cells produce an allergy-related antibody called immunoglobulin E (IgE) when confronted with peanuts.
These cells can linger in the body for an indefinite period of time, and possibly people’s entire lives.
Dr Joshua Koenig, of McMaster University in Canada, said the cells “directly create IgE antibodies, the type that make us allergic”.
He said: “They're really the long-term memory reservoir of allergy.”
The second study, also published in Science Translational Medicine, independently discovered the same set of cells in blood samples from adults.
Six had birch-pollen allergies, four had dust-mite allergies and 11 had peanut allergies.
Researchers said discovering the cells could pave the way for new treatments in future that target the cells, which could make allergies less problematic or even cure them.
Dr Sarita Patel, of Harvard Medical School, who was not involved in the research, said: “It is an important area of study, and the key to understanding the persistence of diseases that are caused by antibodies, like allergies.”
When should I call 999 if someone is suffering an allergic reaction?
Call 999 if:
- your lips, mouth, throat or tongue suddenly become swollen
- you're breathing very fast or struggling to breathe (you may become very wheezy or feel like you're choking or gasping for air)
- your throat feels tight or you're struggling to swallow
- your skin, tongue or lips turn blue, grey or pale (if you have black or brown skin, this may be easier to see on the palms of your hands or soles of your feet)
- you suddenly become very confused, drowsy or dizzy
- someone faints and cannot be woken up
- a child is limp, floppy or not responding like they normally do (their head may fall to the side, backwards or forwards, or they may find it difficult to lift their head or focus on your face)
You or the person who's unwell may also have a rash that's swollen, raised or itchy.
These can be signs of a serious allergic reaction and may need immediate treatment in hospital.
Source: The NHS