Prevent allergies to natural substances

For those who love spring, watching the blooms is a great time, however for people with allergies, the countdown to the pollen season is not very interesting. Fortunately, new research has discovered a natural substance in the immune system that may be key to preventing allergies and other life-threatening autoimmune diseases.

Researchers at the Australian National University say this natural reaction to allergies is triggered by the protein noritin.

“We found a very attractive function in the body that can stop the production of antibodies that cause autoimmunity or allergies,” said lead researcher Professor Carola Vinosa.

“The role of noritin in the brain and nervous system has been known for years, but we have seen large amounts of noritin in the immune system and its mechanism, which has never been described in biology,” he said. “One of the mechanisms of our immune system is to prevent autoimmunity and allergies, and based on the evidence, we are able to provide treatment for allergies with this substance.”

The researchers said their research began five years ago, when the team speculated that neuritin may be involved in regulating allergic reactions.

“This is an incredible discovery,” said lead researcher Dr. Paula Gonzalez Figrova. We found that in the absence of noritin, the mortality rate from anaphylaxis (a deadly allergic reaction that can cause shock, sudden drop in blood pressure, and difficulty breathing) increased, highlighting its role in preventing life-threatening allergies.

What causes allergies?

An allergy occurs when the body’s immune system overreacts to substances such as pollen, dust, peanut butter, and anything else that might make a person sneeze or feel worse. The immune system activates antibodies called immunoglobulin E (IgE). When the body produces too much IgE, it releases histamine, which causes an allergic reaction to the harmful substance.

“We have discovered that noritin prevents the formation of too much IgE and is commonly associated with some common forms of allergies and food intolerances,” explains Professor Vinosa.

In autoimmune diseases such as lupus, type 1 diabetes, and multiple sclerosis, this antibody attacks healthy tissues in the body. For some patients, this practice can lead to life-threatening complications.

“There are more than 80 autoimmune diseases, many of which have antibodies that attach to their tissues and attack the body instead of attacking pathogens, viruses and bacteria,” said Dr. Gonzalez-Figrova. “We found that noritin suppresses the rogue plasma cells that produce harmful antibodies.”

New allergy drugs

The team hopes the discovery will be the first step in developing a new line of allergy treatments that use noritin as a base.

Professor Vinosa concludes: If this method were successful, we would not need to deplete important immune cells or destroy the immune system. Instead, we should only use the proteins our bodies use to ensure immune tolerance.

“Allergies and autoimmune diseases are both on the rise, and we hope this will be a new way to deal with them,” he added.

The findings are published in the journal Cell.