Critical immune pathway may explain how skin allergies can trigger systemic reactions
The human body experiences allergic reactions when the immune system mistakenly overreacts to harmless substances, known as allergens, such as pollen, dust or certain foods. While this often causes mild symptoms such as sneezing or a runny nose, it can sometimes trigger a severe, life-threatening reaction called anaphylaxis.
Scientists from Tokyo University of Science and Kyoto University have discovered a critical immune pathway that explains how skin allergies can trigger systemic reactions. The study, published in Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, reveals that the immune signaling protein IL-13 acts on dendritic cells, specifically type 2 classical dendritic cells (cDC2), enhancing their ability to present allergens to other immune cells.
This process, called licensing, promotes immune responses that produce high-affinity IgE antibodies against allergens, which can lead to systemic anaphylaxis. To investigate this process, the researchers developed a murine CAS model that mimics the atopic march by repeatedly exposing the skin to an allergen, ultimately priming the mice to produce large amounts of high-affinity IgE antibodies when they later encounter another allergen.
The findings could potentially lead to new therapeutic approaches for managing skin allergies and their associated systemic reactions.
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