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Scientists have discovered an allergy factory in a surprising place: the human gut.
It’s been known that when the immune system encounters an allergen, it produces immunoglobulin E (IGe) antibodies. These antibodies bind to allergens and cause hives, shortness of breath, and anaphylaxis, symptoms that can result in death. These antibodies are the reason some people swell up from a whiff of peanut butter, while others gobble Skippy without a problem.
Now, a study published Thursday in Science points to the gut as the home of these allergy-causing antibodies, which offers insight into the mechanisms that drive their existence. The research was conducted on people with peanut allergies, but the findings could be game-changing for the estimated one in 10 adults with food allergies. Down the line, guided by this information, researchers may be able to hijack this production line and stop allergic reactions in their tracks.
