With the ever surging air pollution and the resulting depleted air quality index (AQI) has certainly made all of us more vulnerable to chronic respiratory diseases than ever. Moreover, our reduced immunities have further surged this vulnerability making us less resistant to allergens such as dust mites etc.
In a recent study conducted, the researchers have discovered that the interaction of an immune protein named SAA1 with the molecules can cause allergy. This protein SAA1, is well known as a guard against the bacteria and the similar other infectious agents. A healthy immune system with the help of this protein forms a protective layer in case of a foreign body entering the system.
The researchers have shown step-by-step as to how this contact between the SAA1 immune protein and mite-molecules can activate an allergic-type immune response (however, this was done on mice).
This research was conducted at Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health where it was identified that the series of molecular incidents by which tiny creatures similar to tick also commonly known by the name house dust mites can trigger allergic rhinitis and asthma.
The findings have shown as what could be a substantial new way by which inflammatory and allergic disorders arise. They have also recommended that obstructing the pathway could possibly work as a preventive or treatment approach against respiratory conditions such as asthma and other allergic reactions.
“We think that the signaling interactions that occur immediately downstream of the mite-proteins’ activation of SAA1 may be good targets for future drugs,” says study senior author Marsha Wills-Karp, Chair of the Department of Environmental Health and Engineering at the Bloomberg School.
The researchers found that when exposed to dust mite protein, the airways of control mice cause asthma-like sensitization. Conversely, exposure to dust mite proteins had little effect in mice in which SAA1 was neutralized by antibodies or mice in which the gene for SAA1 was knocked out.
