You may be wondering what allergies and asthma have in common other than the fact that they both make you unhappy. As it turns out, quite a bit. Allergies and asthma are frequently co-occurring conditions. Pollen, dust mites, and pet dander, which can induce hay fever (allergic rhinitis) symptoms, can also cause asthma signs and symptoms. Skin or food allergies might trigger asthma symptoms in certain people. This condition is known as allergic asthma or allergy-induced asthma.
Researchers are looking for new treatments for seasonal or intermittent asthma. Researchers from the Department of Microbiology and Immunology at Indiana University School of Medicine are looking into new ways to treat seasonal or intermittent asthma. Their research was recently published in the journal Science Immunology.
“Asthma has no cure, and current treatments mostly focus on symptom relief,” stated Ben Ulrich, PhD, the study’s lead author. “While working in Riley Hospital for Children’s high-risk asthma clinic, I saw that many kids had a more intermittent illness history. We went into the lab and created models to better describe allergic memory and recall response in the lung.”
Asthma has no cure, and current treatments mostly focus on symptom relief. While working in Riley Hospital for Children’s high-risk asthma clinic, I saw that many kids had a more intermittent illness history. We went into the lab and created models to better describe allergic memory and recall response in the lung.
Ben Ulrich
When a person with seasonal or intermittent asthma inhales allergens, they may experience symptoms such as wheezing, coughing, and, in severe situations, asthmatic exacerbation or hospitalization. These symptoms are caused by inflammation, restriction of the airways, and mucus production. When exposed to seasonal allergens, such as pollens, fungi, or other allergens that are only present at specific times of the year, antigen-presenting cells activate CD4 + T-cells to produce cytokines, so initiating inflammatory cascades. The researchers studied one cytokine, interleukin 9 (IL-9), to examine how it affects allergic memory responses.
When immune system proteins (antibodies) incorrectly interpret an innocuous material, such as tree pollen, as an invader, an allergic reaction develops. Antibodies bind to allergens in an attempt to defend your body from the substance. Allergy symptoms and indicators include nasal congestion, runny nose, itchy eyes, and skin reactions caused by chemicals secreted by your immune system. This same reaction affects the lungs and airways in certain patients, resulting in asthma symptoms.
They discovered a distinct population of memory CD4 T-cells that produced IL-9, as well as IL-5 and IL-13. Antigen-specific IL-9 was released by these cells. Furthermore, these cells express ST2, an IL-33 receptor, and produced more IL-9 in the presence of IL-33 in an allergen-specific manner. The inhibition of IL-9 resulted in a decrease in the expression of several genes related with mucus formation in epithelial cells. It also resulted in a decrease in CD4 T-cells and B-cells, as well as an alteration in the expression of activation markers on microphages.
“Seasonal or intermittent asthma can be very distinct from other forms of asthma due to persistent exposure to allergens,” said Mark Kaplan, Ph.D., chair of the IU School of Medicine Department of Microbiology and Immunology and senior author of the study. “Targeting IL-9 in the lungs during seasonal allergies may aid with lung inflammation, according to one study. We may be able to identify novel therapy targets by focusing on a population of memory cells that mediate allergic recall reactions in the lungs.”
Though allergic asthma is the most frequent type of asthma, there are other varieties of asthma with different sorts of triggers. Asthma can be induced by exercise, infections, cold air, gastroesophageal reflux illness, or stress in certain people. Many people have multiple types of asthma triggers.
Learn what causes your allergy and asthma symptoms and how to reduce your exposure to them. Work with your doctor to identify the best treatment for your symptoms, and keep in touch with him or her on a frequent basis.
Because allergy and asthma symptoms might fluctuate over time, your treatment may need to be adjusted accordingly. Learn the warning signals that your asthma is about to flare up – and what to do if it does.
Allergies can be a trigger for asthmatic patients. The most prevalent type of asthma, a chronic lung condition, is allergic asthma. Asthma can be triggered by a variety of factors, and the first step after being diagnosed is to identify which triggers to avoid. Smoke, stress, exercise, or cold air could all be triggered. Most individuals aren’t bothered by these things, but for those who have asthma, they can aggravate the inflammation.
