Do you feel the urge to reach for your handkerchief every time a cat crosses your path? Well, help is on its way to all you allergic individuals.
Scientists at the University of California have designed a molecule to block cat allergies. The report is published in the April issue of research journal Nature Medicine. The scientists are excited as they claim that this successful experiment could lead to evolutionary therapy for allergies of all types.
Anthony S.Fauci, M.D, director of National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID), says, "This novel approach to treating cat allergies is encouraging news for millions of cat-allergic Americans. Moreover, these results provide proof-of-concept for using this approach to develop therapies to prevent deadly food allergy reactions as well."
The experiment involved injecting genetically engineered mice with a newly developed part-feline, part-human protein. The mice were altered to be allergic to cats. Andrew Saxon of UCLA, lead scientist in the experiment said that they had named the molecule GFD, or Gamma Feline Domesticus, for its human and feline parts. After a month of injections, the mice were found to be cured of their allergy.
The researchers have written in their paper that, "We measured more than 90 percent less histamine in the cultures with GFD, those results suggested that GFD successfully prevented the immune cells from reacting to cat allergen. The next step was to test GFD in mice that we had made allergic to the allergenic protein found in cat saliva and dander."
This novel approach apparently switches off a key chemical involved in allergies. Though it is great news for allergic individuals, scientists caution that it is years away from actually being used in humans.
