Small Intestine May Play Large Role in Food Allergy

In March, I talked about research related to dendritic cells and food allergies in a post called, "New Discovery May Help Food Allergic".  Last week, Massachusetts General released a new study focused on dendritic cells in the intestinal lining. They discovered that these cells collect antigens from both intestinal contents and the blood stream, leading to the generation of T cells that suppress inflammation. Researchers believe that the suppression of inflammation could bring about the inappropriate immune response characteristic of autoimmune disorders, inflammatory bowel disease and food allergies. Controlling T cell activation in the intestine may play a role in understanding food allergies.

Take a look at the complete press release, Intestinal immune cells play an unexpected role in immune surveillance of the bloodstream, for more detailed information. This study was supported by several National Institutes of Health grants.

Food Allergy News in 2010

Much has happened over the past year and individuals and families with food allergy have a lot to celebrate:

We found out that we should carry 2 doses of epinephrine.
We discovered how to turn off a food reaction in mice.
We educated the public about bullying experienced by our food allergic kids.
More allergists are trying densensitization programs with food allergic patients.
We read about the creation of a low-allergy peanut.
We're able to determine through a blood test which infants are at increased risk for developing allergies.
Researchers are on the way to discovering the gene that could be responsible for eosinophilic esophagitis (EoE).
Conferences, like one run by AAAAI, were a great source of exciting studies and new information.
The discovery of a specific molecule that  directs immune cells to develop the capability to produce an allergic response helps researchers with another piece of the allergy puzzle.

So, like with many other things, we have much to be grateful for and much more to do.

Thank you readers for checking in throughout 2010. I look forward to a new year filled with many more advances in food allergy, but I can't wait for the day when I can say, "We have a cure!".

Happy New Year!


 

Food Allergy Research Centers

I mentioned CoFAR in my previous post discussing the possible relationship between milk and egg allergy to peanut allergy. CoFAR (Consortium of Food Allergy Research) is a network of food allergy centers that includes Duke University, Mount Sinai School of Medicine, Johns Hopkins School of Medicine, National Jewish Research & Medical Center, and University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences.

This consortium was established in July 2005 by the National Institute of Health to conduct multi-center clinical studies and basic research towards further understanding of food allergies.

Each site can be contacted directly for those interested in participating in a food allergy study or assisting in some other way.

Food Allergy Research Findings Presented at Conference

The AAAAI (American Academy of Allergy, Asthma and Immunology) wrapped up its annual conference last week. Food allergy was the center of several prominent studies. Here is a re-cap of some of the big ones:

Oral Immunotherapy shows Promise for Egg Allergy- Early results from this study show that egg allergic children may be able to tolerate eggs following a course of ingesting increasing amounts of egg protein. Of course this has all been done in a carefully controlled setting and should not be tried at home. More about that in the video link at the end of this post.

Milk Allergic Children Tolerate Milk heated at high temperatures. The study shows that up to 80% of milk allergic children may be able to eat baked products like cookies and cakes containing milk. Something seems to change within the milk protein when it is heated at a high temperature. Research in this area continues.

Anaphylaxis to Meat is more common than originally thought. The message is that clinicians should investigate whether or not there is a meat allergy when there are unexplained allergy symptoms. In meat allergy, the allergic reaction is to the sugar in the meat, not the protein. This is the first food allergy to stem from sugars. The research shows that meat allergies tend to develop in adults who have tolerated meat all their lives, then, possibly due to a bee sting or tick bite, suddenly become meat allergic.

An Oral Immunotherapy for Peanut Allergy study revealed that children receiving increasing amount of peanut powder, could tolerate 20 peanuts after 10 months of treatment. A different three year study showed a significant number of children who were able to stop immunotherapy and can now eat peanuts successfully.

Check out this video from the conference about when oral immunotherapy may be ready to be used as a regular treatment for food allergy.

When you next visit your allergist, ask about these studies and how they may relate to your situation. I am glad to see that research is moving ahead, but I am also reminded that we have a ways to go before we can say food allergies are curable.

Largest Food Allergy Study Set to Begin

After a promising pilot study, doctors at Addenbrookes Hospital in Cambridge will begin a government-funded immunotherapy trial next month. A similar study was conducted in the 1990's. It yielded serious consequences. The difference this time, explains researchers, is that rather than receiving injections of peanut protein, those in this study will receive increasing amounts of peanut flour mixed in yogurt.

It is important to note that this study will only involve children. There will be a therapy and a control group. The control group will think they are getting peanut protein, but will in fact receive a substance of another type.

Researchers think the children will need to continue this immunotherapy process for 2-3 years.

Of course, it can not be stressed enough that this should not be tried at home.

I continue to feel grateful to families who participate in studies like this. Because of these participants, I feel confident that a cure is on the horizon.

Check out the full article.

New Food Allergy Studies

The American College of Allergy, Asthma and Immunology has just wrapped up their annual conference. Many studies related to food allergy were presented at the conference. Here are some interesting highlights:

"Use of Epinephrine for the Treatment of Anaphylaxis by US Emergency Medical Service(EMS)Personnel in the Pre-Hospital Setting"- Only 17 states require EMS-Basics to have epinephrine available, and 15 states do not require any level of EMS to carry epinephrine for anaphylaxis treatment.


"Proactive Egg Ingestion in High-risk Patients with Severe Egg Allergy" Twenty-nine severely egg allergic patients were introduced to egg in carefully controlled increments. Eighty-six percent were able to eat one fourth of cooked whole egg within 10 months.

"What Does a Patient with Anaphylaxis Do before Seeking Medical Attention?" Many people delay medical treatment of a food allergy reaction because they believe the symptoms will subside over time. Of those who sought medical care for a reaction, only 30% used self-injectable epinephrine prior to arrival for treatment. This study concluded that more education is needed as time is critical when treating an allergic reaction.

"The School Nurse's Perception of Food Allergy - A Statewide Survey" A survey conducted in Mississippi revealed that students were more likely to have food allergy action plans if the school nurse received information on food allergies from parents or a physician, or if the student attended a school in an urban area. The study showed that 97% of the nurses surveyed had at least one child with food allergy in the school. Only 30% of schools had action plans for children with food allergy.

Want more detail on any of these highlights? Read the summaries here.