About 30 percent of allergy sufferers suffer from allergies to their pets. Dog and cat dander is a major allergen source that triggers a hitherto enigmatic inflammatory response. A study carried out by the University of Cambridge, in the United Kingdom, reveals that an environmental toxin exacerbates the immune response to the protein present in cat hair, and clarifies which part of the system is responsible for detecting it.
Allergic responses are the result of the immune system’s excessive reaction to the perception of damage. Instead of identifying and responding to specific harmful viruses, the system assumes every allergen is dangerous to the body and triggers an immune response. From itching to inflammation to a change in skin color or rashes are some of these responses. To study this reaction, the scientists exposed human cells to the hair of dogs and cats in the presence of high and low levels of lipopolysaccharides (an environmental bacterial toxin).
The researchers concluded that when the Fel d 1 protein, present in cat dander, is present in the presence of very low doses of lipopolysaccharides, it activates a type of immune system protein called TLR4, which in turn stimulates the inflammatory response. Taking this mechanism into account, the researchers found that,By inhibiting the response of this receptor, they blocked the effects of the cat’s hair protein and the allergy was not manifested.
The results conclude that when the toxin is present it increases the reaction of the immune system and intensifies the physical inflammatory response.Scientists believe that these same results can be extrapolated to the case of dogss and will serve to advance the creation of medicines against this type of allergies.
