There’s good news coming out of the United Kingdom for allergy and asthma sufferers. A team of immunologists from the University of Nottingham has made a breakthrough in understanding the body’s allergic response – an advance that is anticipated to lead to treatments for allergies and asthma that target the cause and not just the symptoms.
The research was funded by Asthma UK, which is, according to Research Relations Manager Dr. Elaine Vickers, “delighted” at the results. “This is a great example of where Asthma UK’s research funding is leading to a better understanding of asthma which could ultimately benefit thousands of people with both asthma and allergies,” says Vickers.
Researchers have been aware for some time that allergies to common airborne substances such as dust mites and cat dander can cause and/or worsen asthma. Asthma affects over 34 million Americans, and is the most common chronic condition in childhood. About 70 percent of asthmatics have allergies. Previous studies have shown that as many as 40 per cent of children with asthma are allergic to cats.
Allergies are caused by the body’s immune system mistaking a normally harmless substance such as dust, pollen or cat dander as an invader. The immune system mounts a defense, triggering chemicals such as histamine. These chemicals cause inflammation, resulting in symptoms such as sneezing, a runny nose, itchy eyes and wheezing.
The Nottingham researchers discovered that an immune system cell receptor called a mannose receptor (MR) plays a significant role in allergic reaction to both dust mites and cat dander (microscopic bits of cat skin). MR not only recognizes allergens, it triggers the immune system to respond to them.
“A better understanding of how the interaction between allergens and the immune system leads to allergy is vital if we are to develop more effective and efficient treatments for this debilitating condition,” says one of the lead researchers, Dr. Amir Ghaem-Maghami.
Current asthma treatment usually involves two classes of asthma medication, quick-relief or rescue medications used to treat asthma attacks, and long-term control asthma medicines used to manage chronic symptoms and limit or prevent attacks. Asthma medications are typically provided in a metered-dose asthma inhaler or as dry powder asthma inhalers.
Ironically, cats get asthma too, often as a result of allergies, and are treated with the same inhaled asthma medication as humans.