Research team
Deciphering the complexity of peanut allergy: shifting paradigms about basophilic activation and inhibition mechanisms.
Abstract
IgE-mediated peanut allergy starts with a sensitization phase that is characterized by the production of peanut specific IgE (sIgE) antibodies that can be depicted by peanut immunoassays and/or skin tests. However, the production of these peanut sIgE antibodies is not sufficient for the development of an overt peanut allergy. Actually, many subjects with detectable peanut sIgE antibodies in their serum and/or positive skin test response to peanut do not exhibit clinical manifestations when consuming this legume. The divergence between allergic sensitization and clinically overt allergy not only poses significant diagnostic difficulties but also constitutes a fundamental gap in our knowledge and insights about the complex mechanisms of food allergy and tolerance. Clearly, in prospect for future therapy, better understanding of the underlying (molecular) mechanisms is needed. In this project I will investigate whether the clinical phenotype of peanut sensitization and allergy results from altered basophil responses to stimulation with peanut. More specifically, I will look for alterations in basophilic expression and/or function of three families of functionally distinctive inhibitory receptors, i.e. CD300a, CD32B and Siglec-7, 8 and 9. Obtaining more fundamental insights in the basophil response, may disclose diagnostic but also potential therapeutic targets that have already shown promising preclinical results for various mast cell and basophil associated conditions.Researcher(s)
- Promoter: Ebo Didier
- Co-promoter: Hagendorens Margo
- Co-promoter: Sabato Vito
- Fellow: Van Gasse Athina
Research team(s)
- Immunology
Project type(s)
- Research Project
Deciphering the complexity of peanut allergy: shifting paradigms about basophilic activation and inhibition mechanisms.
Abstract
IgE-mediated peanut allergy starts with a sensitization phase that is characterized by the production of peanut specific IgE (sIgE) antibodies that can be depicted by peanut immunoassays and/or skin tests. However, the production of these peanut sIgE antibodies is not sufficient for the development of an overt peanut allergy. Actually, many subjects with detectable peanut sIgE antibodies in their serum and/or positive skin test response to peanut do not exhibit clinical manifestations when consuming this legume. The divergence between allergic sensitization and clinically overt allergy not only poses significant diagnostic difficulties but also constitutes a fundamental gap in our knowledge and insights about the complex mechanisms of food allergy and tolerance. Clearly, in prospect for future therapy, better understanding of the underlying (molecular) mechanisms is needed. In this project I will investigate whether the clinical phenotype of peanut sensitization and allergy results from altered basophil responses to stimulation with peanut. More specifically, I will look for alterations in basophilic expression and/or function of three families of functionally distinctive inhibitory receptors, i.e. CD300a, CD32B and Siglec-7, 8 and 9. Obtaining more fundamental insights in the basophil response, may disclose diagnostic but also potential therapeutic targets that have already shown promising preclinical results for various mast cell and basophil associated conditions.Researcher(s)
- Promoter: Ebo Didier
- Co-promoter: Hagendorens Margo
- Co-promoter: Sabato Vito
- Fellow: Van Gasse Athina
Research team(s)
- Immunology
Project type(s)
- Research Project