Groundbreaking Research Uncovers Skin Biomarkers for Food Allergy Risk

Celiac.com 04/22/2024 - Food allergies, especially common in childhood, can pose serious threats to health, sometimes leading to severe or even fatal reactions. However, recent advancements in research conducted at National Jewish Health offer hope for early intervention to prevent the development of such allergies.

At National Jewish Health, researchers have pioneered a groundbreaking program focused on preventing food allergies. Their latest breakthrough involves the discovery of early indicators for this condition, which marks a significant stride towards proactive intervention.

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The research team identified biomarkers associated with both atopic dermatitis and food allergy, particularly abnormal lipids, microbes, and proteins present in the skin.

In a recent study published in the March 2024 issue of the Journal of Allergy & Clinical Immunology, skin tape strips were collected from the forearms of newborns at just two months old, an age when no signs of food allergies are typically present.

The innovative skin tape sampling technique, developed by National Jewish Health researchers, is noninvasive and gentle, making it suitable for very young patients. By collecting superficial proteins and lipids from the skin's surface, researchers can analyze them for abnormalities. The children involved in the study were monitored clinically until the age of two to observe if any allergies developed.

Dr. Evgeny Berdyshev, a researcher at National Jewish Health and the study's first author, explained that the immune system beneath the skin influences the skin barrier. Through painless skin tape sampling, researchers can detect abnormalities in the proteins present on the skin's surface.

Dr. Donald Leung, head of the Division of Pediatric Allergy & Immunology at National Jewish Health and senior author of the study, emphasized the importance of identifying individuals at risk for food allergies and addressing skin barrier abnormalities early to prevent these conditions from developing.

Dr. Leung further noted that this research is just the beginning. They are currently conducting studies to determine if they can prevent these abnormalities in newborns by applying a lipid cream to the skin, with the goal of developing an anti-inflammatory cream in the future based on their findings.

Read more at medindia.net