Zileuton, an FDA-approved asthma medication, has been shown to nearly eliminate life-threatening food allergy reactions in mice. Researchers discovered a crucial role of the DPEP1 gene in regulating anaphylaxis. By inhibiting the pathway associated with this gene using Zileuton, allergic reactions were significantly reduced. After treatment, 95 percent of the mice displayed almost no signs of anaphylaxis, shifting their susceptibility from highly allergic to mostly protected. The findings stem from a comprehensive genetic analysis to identify genes influencing food allergy vulnerability.
It was actually shocking how well Zileuton worked. After treatment with Zileuton, 95 percent of the mice showed almost no symptoms of anaphylaxis.
The discovery of the new pathway came after a yearslong forward genetic screen, a process where scientists breed generations of mice to narrow down the specific genes responsible for biological differences.
By using the asthma drug Zileuton to block the pathway involving this gene, the scientists nearly eliminated allergic responses in mice that were previously highly susceptible to food-induced anaphylaxis.
The scientists identified, in mice, a previously unknown role for a gene called DPEP1, which they found is essential in regulating anaphylaxis.
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