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Relationship Between Food Allergy and Human Health

A special issue of Nutrients (ISSN 2072-6643). This special issue belongs to the section "Nutritional Immunology".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: 15 February 2025 | Viewed by 9872

Special Issue Editors


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Guest Editor
Institute of Animal Reproduction and Food Research, PAN, Olsztyn, Poland
Interests: food allergy; cow’s milk protein hypersensitivity; mucosal immunity; gut intestinal microbiota; modified diet; food digestion; food technology
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Institute of Animal Reproduction and Food Research (PAN), Olsztyn, Poland
Interests: mucosal immune system; animal models; Treg; DC; allergy; proteins; flow cytometry
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

The research field of food allergy is experiencing an important development with essential advances in the understanding of the pathophysiology of food allergy, sensitization routes, and the roles that specific immune cells, receptors, and pathways have in the initiation, development, and regulation of food allergies. Novel insights on allergen characterization are not only providing advances in the description of new allergens and their properties, but they are also creating accurate maps of the epitopes recognized by IgE.

Chemical and biochemical characterization and the evaluation of their biological activities go deeper into the relationship between structure and activity of food compounds in terms of their allergenicity. Their gastrointestinal digestibility, bioavailability, benefits and risks for human health are crucial and should be determined.

Your contribution to this Special Issue, in which you are invited to share your findings and insights in the form of research articles, reviews, or short communications, will be a valuable asset and a compelling contribution that will potentially have an important impact on the field of food allergy.

Prof. Dr. Barbara Wróblewska
Dr. Zlotkowska Dagmara
Guest Editors

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Keywords

  • food allergenicity
  • food intolerance
  • novel food allergens
  • food-derived bioactive compounds
  • host immune modulation
  • immune mechanism of food compounds
  • gut microbiota
  • digestion of food allergens
  • in silico prediction of allergenicity

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Published Papers (6 papers)

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Research

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21 pages, 6048 KiB  
Article
Enhanced Effect of β-Lactoglobulin Immunization in Mice with Mild Intestinal Deterioration Caused by Low-Dose Dextran Sulphate Sodium: A New Experimental Approach to Allergy Studies
by Dagmara Złotkowska, Lidia Hanna Markiewicz, Anna Maria Ogrodowczyk, Barbara Wróblewska and Ewa Wasilewska
Nutrients 2024, 16(20), 3430; https://doi.org/10.3390/nu16203430 - 10 Oct 2024
Viewed by 868
Abstract
Background/Objectives: Cow’s milk allergy is one of the most common food allergies in children, and its pathomechanism is still under investigation. Recently, an increasing number of studies have linked food allergy to intestinal barrier dysfunction. The present study aimed to investigate changes in [...] Read more.
Background/Objectives: Cow’s milk allergy is one of the most common food allergies in children, and its pathomechanism is still under investigation. Recently, an increasing number of studies have linked food allergy to intestinal barrier dysfunction. The present study aimed to investigate changes in the intestinal microenvironment during the development of β-lactoglobulin (β-lg) allergy under conditions of early intestinal dysfunction. Methods: BALB/c mice received intraperitoneal β-lg with Freund’s adjuvant, followed by oral β-lg while receiving dextran sulphate sodium salt (DSS) in their drinking water (0.2% w/v). The immunized group without DSS and the groups receiving saline, oral β-lg, or DSS served as controls. Results: The study showed that the immunization effect was greater in mice with mild intestinal barrier dysfunction. Although DSS did not affect the mice’s humoral response to β-lg, in combination with β-lg, it significantly altered their cellular response, affecting the induction and distribution of T cells in the inductive and peripheral tissues and the activation of immune mediators. Administration of β-lg to sensitized mice receiving DSS increased disease activity index (DAI) scores and pro-inflammatory cytokine activity, altered the distribution of claudins and zonulin 1 (ZO-1) in the colonic tissue, and negatively affected the balance and activity of the gut microbiota. Conclusions: The research model used appears attractive for studying food allergen sensitization, particularly in relation to the initial events leading to mucosal inflammation and the development of food hypersensitivity. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Relationship Between Food Allergy and Human Health)
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10 pages, 250 KiB  
Article
Dupilumab as Therapeutic Option in Polysensitized Atopic Dermatitis Patients Suffering from Food Allergy
by Alvise Sernicola, Emanuele Amore, Giuseppe Rizzuto, Alessandra Rallo, Maria Elisabetta Greco, Chiara Battilotti, Francesca Svara, Giulia Azzella, Steven Paul Nisticò, Annunziata Dattola, Camilla Chello, Giovanni Pellacani and Teresa Grieco
Nutrients 2024, 16(16), 2797; https://doi.org/10.3390/nu16162797 - 22 Aug 2024
Viewed by 1315
Abstract
IgE-mediated food allergy is characterized immunologically by a type 1 immune response triggered upon exposure to specific foods and clinically by a broad range of manifestations and variable severity. Our understanding of food allergy within the allergic march of atopic dermatitis (AD) is [...] Read more.
IgE-mediated food allergy is characterized immunologically by a type 1 immune response triggered upon exposure to specific foods and clinically by a broad range of manifestations and variable severity. Our understanding of food allergy within the allergic march of atopic dermatitis (AD) is still incomplete despite the related risk of unpredictable and potentially severe associated reactions such as anaphylactic shock. The aim of this pilot study was to investigate the effects of dupilumab, an IL-4/IL-13 monoclonal antibody approved for AD, on the allergic sensitization profile of patients with AD and type 1 hypersensitivity-related comorbidities, including oral allergy syndrome, anaphylaxis, and gastrointestinal disorders. We conducted an observational pilot study with a longitudinal prospective design, enrolling 20 patients eligible for treatment with dupilumab. Laboratory exams for total serum IgE, specific IgE, and molecular allergen components were performed at baseline and after 16 weeks of therapy. Our results demonstrate a statistically significant decrease in molecular components, specific IgE for trophoallergens, and specific IgE for aeroallergens following treatment with dupilumab. We suggest that modulating type 2 immunity may decrease IgE-mediated responses assessed with laboratory exams and therefore could minimize allergic symptoms in polysensitized patients. Upcoming results of randomized controlled trials investigating dupilumab in food allergy are highly anticipated to confirm its potential effect in the treatment of IgE-mediated food allergies. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Relationship Between Food Allergy and Human Health)
15 pages, 4041 KiB  
Article
Allergenic Shrimp Tropomyosin Distinguishes from a Non-Allergenic Chicken Homolog by Pronounced Intestinal Barrier Disruption and Downstream Th2 Responses in Epithelial and Dendritic Cell (Co)Culture
by Marit Zuurveld, Anna M. Ogrodowczyk, Sara Benedé, Rebecca Czolk, Simona Lucia Bavaro, Stefanie Randow, Lidia H. Markiewicz, Barbara Wróblewska, Elena Molina, Annette Kuehn, Thomas Holzhauser and Linette E. M. Willemsen
Nutrients 2024, 16(8), 1192; https://doi.org/10.3390/nu16081192 - 17 Apr 2024
Viewed by 1713
Abstract
Background: Tropomyosins (TM) from vertebrates are generally non-allergenic, while invertebrate homologs are potent pan-allergens. This study aims to compare the risk of sensitization between chicken TM and shrimp TM through affecting the intestinal epithelial barrier integrity and type 2 mucosal immune activation. Methods: [...] Read more.
Background: Tropomyosins (TM) from vertebrates are generally non-allergenic, while invertebrate homologs are potent pan-allergens. This study aims to compare the risk of sensitization between chicken TM and shrimp TM through affecting the intestinal epithelial barrier integrity and type 2 mucosal immune activation. Methods: Epithelial activation and/or barrier effects upon exposure to 2–50 μg/mL chicken TM, shrimp TM or ovalbumin (OVA) as a control allergen, were studied using Caco-2, HT-29MTX, or HT-29 intestinal epithelial cells. Monocyte-derived dendritic cells (moDC), cocultured with HT-29 cells or moDC alone, were exposed to 50 μg/mL chicken TM or shrimp TM. Primed moDC were cocultured with naïve Th cells. Intestinal barrier integrity (TEER), gene expression, cytokine secretion and immune cell phenotypes were determined in these human in vitro models. Results: Shrimp TM, but not chicken TM or OVA exposure, profoundly disrupted intestinal barrier integrity and increased alarmin genes expression in Caco-2 cells. Proinflammatory cytokine secretion in HT-29 cells was only enhanced upon shrimp TM or OVA, but not chicken TM, exposure. Shrimp TM enhanced the maturation of moDC and chemokine secretion in the presence or absence of HT-29 cells, while only in the absence of epithelial cells chicken TM activated moDC. Direct exposure of moDC to shrimp TM increased IL13 and TNFα secretion by Th cells cocultured with these primed moDC, while shrimp TM exposure via HT-29 cells cocultured with moDC sequentially increased IL13 expression and IL4 secretion in Th cells. Conclusions: Shrimp TM, but not chicken TM, disrupted the epithelial barrier while triggering type 2 mucosal immune activation, both of which are key events in allergic sensitization. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Relationship Between Food Allergy and Human Health)
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19 pages, 2288 KiB  
Article
Vegetable Extracts as Therapeutic Agents: A Comprehensive Exploration of Anti-Allergic Effects
by Kazuhito Takemoto, Tian Ganlin, Masaki Iji, Takahiro Narukawa, Tomohisa Koyama, Luo Hao and Hiroyuki Watanabe
Nutrients 2024, 16(5), 693; https://doi.org/10.3390/nu16050693 - 29 Feb 2024
Cited by 2 | Viewed by 1604
Abstract
Food allergies are common worldwide and have become a major public health concern; more than 220 million people are estimated to suffer from food allergies worldwide. On the other hand, polyphenols, phenolic substances found in plants, have attracted attention for their health-promoting functions, [...] Read more.
Food allergies are common worldwide and have become a major public health concern; more than 220 million people are estimated to suffer from food allergies worldwide. On the other hand, polyphenols, phenolic substances found in plants, have attracted attention for their health-promoting functions, including their anti-allergic effects. In this study, we examined the potential inhibitory effects of 80% ethanol extracts from 22 different vegetables on the degranulation process in RBL-2H3 cells. Our aim was to identify vegetables that could prevent and treat type I allergic diseases. We found strong inhibition of degranulation by extracts of perilla and chives. Furthermore, we verified the respective efficacy via animal experiments, which revealed that the anaphylactic symptoms caused by ovalbumin (OVA) load were alleviated in OVA allergy model mice that ingested vegetable extracts of perilla and chives. These phenomena were suggested to be caused by induction of suppression in the expression of subunits that constitute the high-affinity IgE receptor, particularly the α-chain of FcεR I. Notably, the anti-allergic effects of vegetables that can be consumed daily are expected to result in the discovery of new anti-immediate allergenic drugs based on the components of these vegetables. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Relationship Between Food Allergy and Human Health)
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Review

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19 pages, 1608 KiB  
Review
Marine Bioactive Compounds with Functional Role in Immunity and Food Allergy
by Ana G. Abril, Mónica Carrera and Manuel Pazos
Nutrients 2024, 16(16), 2592; https://doi.org/10.3390/nu16162592 - 6 Aug 2024
Viewed by 1504
Abstract
Food allergy, referred to as the atypical physiological overreaction of the immune system after exposure to specific food components, is considered one of the major concerns in food safety. The prevalence of this emerging worldwide problem has been increasing during the last decades, [...] Read more.
Food allergy, referred to as the atypical physiological overreaction of the immune system after exposure to specific food components, is considered one of the major concerns in food safety. The prevalence of this emerging worldwide problem has been increasing during the last decades, especially in industrialized countries, being estimated to affect 6–8% of young children and about 2–4% of adults. Marine organisms are an important source of bioactive substances with the potential to functionally improve the immune system, reduce food allergy sensitization and development, and even have an anti-allergic action in food allergy. The present investigation aims to be a comprehensive report of marine bioactive compounds with verified actions to improve food allergy and identified mechanisms of actions rather than be an exhaustive compilation of all investigations searching beneficial effects of marine compounds in FA. Particularly, this research highlights the capacity of bioactive components extracted from marine microbial, animal, algae, and microalgae sources, such as n-3 long-chain polyunsaturated fatty acids (LC-PUFA), polysaccharide, oligosaccharide, chondroitin, vitamin D, peptides, pigments, and polyphenols, to regulate the immune system, epigenetic regulation, inflammation, and gut dysbiosis that are essential factors in the sensitization and effector phases of food allergy. In conclusion, the marine ecosystem is an excellent source to provide foods with the capacity to improve the hypersensitivity induced against specific food allergens and also bioactive compounds with a potential pharmacological aptitude to be applied as anti-allergenic in food allergy. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Relationship Between Food Allergy and Human Health)
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18 pages, 1706 KiB  
Review
Differences in the Course, Diagnosis, and Treatment of Food Allergies Depending on Age—Comparison of Children and Adults
by Julia Kuźniar, Patrycja Kozubek and Krzysztof Gomułka
Nutrients 2024, 16(9), 1317; https://doi.org/10.3390/nu16091317 - 27 Apr 2024
Cited by 1 | Viewed by 2359
Abstract
Food allergy (FA) has become a common global public health issue, with a growing prevalence in the modern world and a significant impact on the lives of patients, their families, and caregivers. It affects every area of life and is associated with elevated [...] Read more.
Food allergy (FA) has become a common global public health issue, with a growing prevalence in the modern world and a significant impact on the lives of patients, their families, and caregivers. It affects every area of life and is associated with elevated costs. Food allergy is an adverse immune reaction that occurs in response to a given food. The symptoms vary from mild to severe and can lead to anaphylaxis. This is why it is important to focus on the factors influencing the occurrence of food allergies, specific diagnostic methods, effective therapies, and especially prevention. Recently, many guidelines have emphasized the impact of introducing specific foods into a child’s diet at an early age in order to prevent food allergies. Childhood allergies vary with age. In infants, the most common allergy is to cow’s milk. Later in life, peanut allergy is more frequently diagnosed. Numerous common childhood allergies can be outgrown by adulthood. Adults can also develop new IgE-mediated FA. The gold standard for diagnosis is the oral provocation test. Skin prick tests, specific IgE measurements, and component-resolved diagnostic techniques are helpful in the diagnosis. Multiple different approaches are being tried as possible treatments, such as immunotherapy or monoclonal antibodies. This article focuses on the prevention and quality of life of allergic patients. This article aims to systematize the latest knowledge and highlight the differences between food allergies in pediatric and adult populations. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Relationship Between Food Allergy and Human Health)
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