The future of biologics: Applications for food allergy

Abstract

Allergic diseases affects millions worldwide, with growing evidence of an increase in allergy occurrence over the past few decades. Current treatments for allergy include corticosteroids to reduce inflammation and allergen immunotherapy (AIT); however, some individuals experience treatment-resistant inflammation or adverse reactions to these treatments, and neither are currently approved for the treatment of food allergy. There is a dire need for new therapeutic approaches for individuals with poorly controlled atopic diseases and to improve the safety and effectiveness of AIT. Improved understanding of allergy through animal models and clinical trials has unveiled potential targets for new therapies, leading to the development of several biologics to treat allergic diseases. This review focuses on the mechanisms that contribute to allergy, with an emphasis on future targets for biologics for the treatment of food allergy. These biologics include immunotherapy with novel anti-IgE antibodies and analogs, small molecule inhibitors of cell signaling, anti-type 2 cytokine monoclonal antibodies and Th1-promoting adjuvants.

Laser-facilitated epicutaneous immunotherapy to IgE-mediated allergy

“…Apart from the low efficacy and high risk, the treatment requires 50~70 visits to clinics/hospitals for repetitive allergen administration over 3–5 years [5,6]. Pharmacological treatments in case of emergency visits include administration of antihistamines, leukotriene modifiers and/or corticosteroids either systemically or using inhalers to suppress the ongoing allergic reaction, but extensive use of these drugs might cause severe side effects [7,8]. Therefore, tailor-made treatment choice for each patient is being considered to provide extended protection against allergic asthma [8].…”

New insights into basophil heterogeneity

“…Specifically, certain diseases may respond more robustly to anti-IgE therapy (e.g, food allergy and urticarial), while others may respond more to anti-TSLP therapy (AD and EoE). In the setting of asthma, it appears that certain subsets respond to IgE while others respond to anti-TSLP treatment [83,119]. Thus, a deeper understanding of basophil biology may help us to better direct future treatments in allergic diseases.…”

“…Further, we would predict in this setting that IL-3-elicited basophils are the primary pathogenic basophil subset since basophils are known to be critical for the pathogenesis of IgE-mediated dermatitis in mice [19,80–82]. Whether omalizumab can improve outcomes in other IgE- and basophil-associated diseases such as food allergy is currently under investigation [83]. …”

Authentication of shrimp muscle in complex foodstuff by in-solution digestion and high-resolution mass spectrometry

“…However, for a small but rather signicant group of food-allergic individuals, the consumption can pose a severe health problem. 1 Many cases of shellsh allergies have been frequently reported, being currently viewed as an emergent issue of public health.…”