Molecular switch that triggers allergic response in humans identified

vIndianz.com (21 Jan, 2010) — Washington: A latest American research on human cells has found a molecule thymic stromal lymphopoietin (TSLP), which directs immune cells to build up the capability to produce an allergic response.

The study suggests that this molecule is fundamental to the growth of allergic diseases like asthma, atopic dermatitis (eczema), and food allergy.

A group of researchers led by Yong-Jun Liu at the University Of Texas M.D. Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, studied dendritic cells, immune cells that start the principal immune response.

Dendritic cells come into contact with other immune cells the T cells, causing them to change into diverse subsets of T cells, together with helper 1 (Th1) and helper 2 (Th2) cells.

These T-cell subsets are troubled with protecting immune responses, although the Th2 cells can also drive an allergic reaction. Until now the procedure by which the dendritic cells encouraged T cells to become Th2 cells was not recognized.

The scientists used dendritic cells taken from the blood of hale and hearty donors and found that the required of TSLP to these cells triggers a distinct set of signaling pathways inside the cells. As a result, the dendritic cells generate messenger molecules that act on the T cells, causing them to grow into Th2 cells.

The study recognizes TSLP as a switch that leads to the growth of the allergic response in people and suggests that this molecule could be used as a prospective therapeutic aim for the healing and prevention of allergic diseases.

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