Epicutaneous Sensitization Results in IgE-Dependent Intestinal Mast Cell Expansion and Food Anaphylaxis

Abstract

Background-Sensitization to food antigen may occur through cutaneous exposure.

Increased Frequency of CTLA-4 and PD-1 Expressing Regulatory T Cells and Basophils With an Activating Profile in Infants With Moderate-to-Severe Atopic Dermatitis Hypersensitized to Food Allergens

“…In this sense, we have observed that sensitization to specific antigens in children with moderate-to-severe AD was associated to foods commonly consumed not only by the mother, but also by other members of the family unit, suggesting that the skin could be one of the routes of sensitization. It has been well-established in animal studies that sensitization to food allergens can occur through the skin, giving rise to IgE-mediated hypersensitivity responses (4,(57)(58)(59)(60). Not only in animal models, there is also clinical data supporting the dual allergen exposure hypothesis.…”

“…The Avon Longitudinal Study of Parents and Children (ALSPAC) birth cohort study demonstrated that infants with peanut allergy by the age of 5 years were more likely to have had severe AD in the first 6 months of life and to have been treated with peanut oil for dry skin (9). Based on evidences from mouse models and clinical studies, it has been suggested that, if the skin barrier can be improved and/or the inflammation of AD can be proactively prevented, in combination with early introduction of food antigens, the incidence of FA and possibly other forms of allergic diseases might be decreased (55,56,(60)(61)(62).…”