Drug for Asthma Might Hold Solution for Food Allergies
In a groundbreaking study published in the prestigious journal Science, researchers from Northwestern University have discovered that the FDA-approved asthma drug Zileuton can nearly eliminate severe food allergic reactions (anaphylaxis) in mice. This finding, while promising, awaits confirmation in human clinical trials.
The study focuses on a newly discovered immune pathway involving a gene called DPEP1. Zileuton was found to block food-induced anaphylaxis in mice by preventing allergen absorption in the gut and interrupting the leukotriene pathway regulated by DPEP1. After treatment, 95% of allergic mice showed almost no symptoms of anaphylaxis, representing a reversal from 95% susceptibility to 95% protection.
The researchers described the results as "shockingly effective," with Zileuton acting as a simple pill that could temporarily shield allergic individuals before allergen exposure. This could potentially offer a new treatment option for the millions of people affected by food allergies in the United States.
Current FDA-approved food allergy treatments, such as oral immunotherapy and omalizumab, are limited by efficacy, safety, and cost. If human trials confirm the benefits of Zileuton, it could become a go-to option for temporary protection, especially in unpredictable environments.
The Northwestern team has initiated a small human trial to test if Zileuton has the same protective effect in people as it did in mice. The findings have raised interest across the allergy and immunology fields, with researchers hoping that this study marks a turning point in how scientists think about treating allergies.
The research sets the stage for more discoveries into how the gut interacts with allergens and what can be done to control that process safely. It also may explain why some people test positive for a food allergy but don't react when they eat the food. If the newly discovered pathway is inactive in those individuals, it could mean their bodies allow the allergen to pass through the gut without triggering a serious immune response.
In conclusion, while Zileuton has demonstrated remarkable prevention of severe food allergy reactions in mouse studies, its effectiveness in humans remains to be proven through ongoing clinical trials. However, the potential benefits of this asthma drug in treating food allergies are significant, and the results of the human trial are eagerly awaited.
[1] Northwestern University. (2022). Asthma drug Zileuton stops severe allergic reactions in mice sensitive to peanuts. Science. [2] Northwestern University. (2022). Human trial underway for asthma drug Zileuton as potential food allergy treatment. ScienceDaily. [3] Northwestern University. (2022). New pathway for treating food allergies discovered by Northwestern researchers. EurekAlert! [4] Northwestern University. (2022). Asthma drug Zileuton prevents food-induced anaphylaxis in mice. [email protected]. [5] Northwestern University. (2022). Asthma drug Zileuton shows potential for treating food allergies in mice. News-Medical.net.
- This groundbreaking study in Science indicates that the health-and-wellness field could see a new medical-condition treatment option for food allergies with the FDA-approved asthma drug Zileuton, which has demonstrated nearly eliminating severe food allergic reactions in mice.
- The discovery of a newly found immune pathway involving the gene DPEP1, as part of the health-and-wellness research at Northwestern University, suggests that nutrition could play a crucial role in preventing food-and-drink induced anaphylaxis.
- As lifestyle changes continue to be debated, the finding that food allergies could potentially be managed with a simple pill like Zileuton raises questions about the impact of diet on overall health and wellness.
