Recent research reveals that proteins associated with allergens create pores in the membranes of airway cells, leading to immune responses such as sneezing and cough. Previous theories centered on allergen-specific reactions, but this new finding indicates a broader mechanism at play. Identified proteins from the mould Alternaria alternata, Aeg-S and Aeg-L, allow calcium ions to penetrate cells and signal danger to the immune system. The implications of this discovery could significantly modify current allergy treatment strategies by focusing on the proteins that initiate allergic responses rather than merely addressing the allergens themselves.
Researchers in Beijing have identified two proteins in the mould Alternaria alternata, Aeg-S and Aeg-L, which create pores in airway cells, leading to allergic reactions.
These pore-forming proteins allow calcium ions into the cells, triggering the release of molecules that alert the immune system to danger, indicating a novel allergy mechanism.
The damage caused by these proteins to cell membranes could serve as a general signal for the immune system to recognize allergens, fundamentally changing allergy treatment.
Current allergy treatments target allergens or immune responses, but understanding pore-forming proteins opens new pathways for directly addressing the initiation of the immune response.
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