Mice were vaccinated against allergies
Peanut allergy vaccine successfully tested on mice
Natalia Pelezneva, Naked Science
Researchers from the University of Michigan managed to "turn off" peanut allergy in laboratory mice using a nasal spray based on plant extract and nanoemulsion from purified soybean oil. The reaction to the allergen was weakened by only three doses. An article about the testing was published in the Journal of Allergy and Clinical Immunology.
The most common way to combat food allergies is to avoid foods that cause it. However, even a minimal amount of peanuts is sufficient for the reaction to occur, and its traces are often found in other products: for example, in bread and confectionery. Therefore, scientists are developing new methods of therapy. So, in France, they created a patch that constantly delivers small doses of allergen to the body, forcing you to "get used" to the product.
The basis of the new vaccine is a nanoemulsion of thoroughly purified soybean oil and water mixed at high speed. Previous studies have shown that it enhances the immune response of the body in the fight against infections by activating the work of T-helper subtypes 1 and 17 – cells that secrete anti-inflammatory and "antiviral" proteins. According to scientists, the same reaction can suppress the activity of subtype 2 T-helpers – the main culprits of allergies. At the same time, the oil is purified from soy proteins and cannot provoke an allergic reaction to this product. Peanut extract was used as an antigen in the vaccine.
Testing was carried out on specially trained mice prone to peanut allergy. When interacting with an allergen, their eyes watered, and irritation appeared on the skin. One group of mice received three doses of the vaccine within two months, and the second was given a placebo. Two weeks after the last dose, the sensitivity of the first group to peanuts decreased significantly.
It is not yet known whether the vaccine will help people with peanut allergies. Scientists plan to conduct several more studies on mice in order to consider in more detail the mechanism of suppression of allergic reactions.
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