Inner Weapons Against Allergies: Gut Bacteria

MBombardier · Post by **MBombardier** » Wed Apr 04, 2012 2:39 pm

http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/20 ... 173210.htm

Gloria · Post by **Gloria** » Fri Apr 06, 2012 4:45 pm

The investigators administered broad-spectrum oral antibiotics to deplete certain types of bacteria in mice and to subsequently examine the affects on levels of circulating basophils in the blood. Using an animal-based model of allergic inflammation in the lung that shares characteristics with asthma in humans, they found that antibiotic treatment resulted in significantly elevated basophil responses and a marked increase in the amount of basophil-mediated allergic airway inflammation. Elevated serum levels of IgE, an important mediator in allergic disease, were also observed.

"The identification of a mechanistic connection between commensal bacteria, basophils, and allergic disease illuminates several new avenues that could be targeted by future therapeutics to block or inhibit the development of allergic disease," Artis notes. Further study and identification of these commensal pathways could also have implications for other chronic diseases related to immune system functioning.

I wonder if they'll have any of this figured out in our lifetime. I figure I have 20 years left for them to get it done.

Gloria

MBombardier · Post by **MBombardier** » Fri Apr 06, 2012 6:16 pm

Both of us, Gloria. I bumped up my allergy med from Zyrtec to Allegra with the advent of the spring allergy season. I am frustrated because I am reacting allergically to something I thought was safe. My lips are broken out (eczema) more severely than they have been in quite some time. I don't mean around my lips, I mean the lips themselves. They are throbbing and stinging, too. The second part of that reaction is intense anal itching. I have not felt that yet, but I am having some BM involvement which is unusual with an allergic food reaction.

This is of much concern to me, as I don't want to have to take Zantac again to get a handle on the allergic reaction, whatever is causing it.

Let's hope these researchers work fast. The peanut allergy item Tex has posted today may help move them along.