About this Research Topic
Allergy is described as a “global pandemic of non-communicable inflammatory disease”. The World Allergy Organization estimates that 10-40% of the world's population is affected by allergic diseases. Allergy manifests where the body confronts allergens in the environment such as nose or eyes, resulting in allergic rhinitis; skin resulting in dermatitis; airways resulting in asthma; and digestive system resulting in food allergy and eosinophilic esophagitis etc. Food allergy (FA) increased drastically in the past 2 decades. For example, the estimated prevalence of food allergy is 10 % in the US, 10-20% in UK, 25% in Australia. It estimates 200-400 million people may have food allergy globally. Other allergic conditions also significantly increased. These allergic conditions negatively affect quality of life in affected individuals and are potentially life threatening such as food-induced anaphylactic shock and uncontrolled asthma. Immunoglobulin E (IgE) is the central to the pathology of allergic diseases. IgE binds to mast cells and basophils via high affinity receptors. When these cells encounter specific allergens, surface bound IgE is crosslinked and this triggers the cells to degranulate and release mediators such as histamine, PAF and leukotrienes that cause symptoms such as hives, swelling, abdominal pain, itching and respiratory distress, and anaphylactic shock. Eosinophils are the major inflammatory cells that involved in variety of allergic inflammatory conditions.
The mechanisms underlying the trend of allergy is largely unknown. Current approaches to manage allergy include avoiding triggers, using immune-suppressing corticosteroids, other medications such as antihistamine, and allergen immunotherapy. However, long term use of some of the drugs may spark resistance and undesirable adverse effects. There are no “cures” on the horizon. Innovative approaches are needed. Normally, IgE-producing B cells and plasma cells are minor populations with minimal IgE output, compared with their counterparts such as IgG and IgA. Dysregulation of these cells causes excessive and persistent IgE production, which is the key for allergy becoming lifelong. Despite decades of awareness about the centrality of allergen-specific IgE in allergy, inhibiting IgE production by B cells/plasma cells remains a major challenge. Omalizumab, the anti-IgE antibody, “traps” IgE temporarily but does not tackle IgE production. Oral immunotherapy (OIT), including Palforzia®, may paradoxically increase IgE levels.8-13 Therefore, further research should focus on how to restore normality of IgE immune regulation, which will alter the process of allergy leading to curative therapy. Recent research demonstrated that in addition to the classical Th1 and Th2 paradigm, B cell chemokines (CXCL13) and plasma transcription factors (XBP1 and Blimp1) contribute to persistent IgE production and to IgG1 cell conversion to IgE cells. BCL6 has been demonstrated as an IgE transcriptional suppressor. Furthermore, in addition Th2 cell, LC2 may also contribute to eosinophilic inflammation.
Natural compounds and probiotics provide rich resources to discover and develop novel interventions for allergy and inflammation. We and others have demonstrated that some natural compounds produce profound effects in food allergy and asthma, associated with sustained suppression of IgE via the combination of conventional and novel mechanisms. This proposed Research Topic will address etiology of allergy, and advancement in regulating IgE and eosinophilic inflammation with natural compounds and probiotics.
We welcome manuscripts covering the following topics:
1. Etiology of Allergy: Western diet and False alarm hypothesis, epigenic mechanisms, allergenic foods.
2. Regulation of IgE and mast cells with natural compounds and probiotics in Food allergy.
3. Molecular mechanisms underlying eosinophilic inflammation and role of small molecular compounds and probiotics on EoE.
4. Pathways cross-active between allergic inflammation, COVID- and cancer- induced inflammation: how and why the compounds tackle these pathways.
5. Molecular understand of diet and probiotic for preventing food allergy.
6. Skin microbiota and inflammation in eczema and molecular targets by natural compounds.
The mechanisms underlying the trend of allergy is largely unknown. Current approaches to manage allergy include avoiding triggers, using immune-suppressing corticosteroids, other medications such as antihistamine, and allergen immunotherapy. However, long term use of some of the drugs may spark resistance and undesirable adverse effects. There are no “cures” on the horizon. Innovative approaches are needed. Normally, IgE-producing B cells and plasma cells are minor populations with minimal IgE output, compared with their counterparts such as IgG and IgA. Dysregulation of these cells causes excessive and persistent IgE production, which is the key for allergy becoming lifelong. Despite decades of awareness about the centrality of allergen-specific IgE in allergy, inhibiting IgE production by B cells/plasma cells remains a major challenge. Omalizumab, the anti-IgE antibody, “traps” IgE temporarily but does not tackle IgE production. Oral immunotherapy (OIT), including Palforzia®, may paradoxically increase IgE levels.8-13 Therefore, further research should focus on how to restore normality of IgE immune regulation, which will alter the process of allergy leading to curative therapy. Recent research demonstrated that in addition to the classical Th1 and Th2 paradigm, B cell chemokines (CXCL13) and plasma transcription factors (XBP1 and Blimp1) contribute to persistent IgE production and to IgG1 cell conversion to IgE cells. BCL6 has been demonstrated as an IgE transcriptional suppressor. Furthermore, in addition Th2 cell, LC2 may also contribute to eosinophilic inflammation.
Natural compounds and probiotics provide rich resources to discover and develop novel interventions for allergy and inflammation. We and others have demonstrated that some natural compounds produce profound effects in food allergy and asthma, associated with sustained suppression of IgE via the combination of conventional and novel mechanisms. This proposed Research Topic will address etiology of allergy, and advancement in regulating IgE and eosinophilic inflammation with natural compounds and probiotics.
We welcome manuscripts covering the following topics:
1. Etiology of Allergy: Western diet and False alarm hypothesis, epigenic mechanisms, allergenic foods.
2. Regulation of IgE and mast cells with natural compounds and probiotics in Food allergy.
3. Molecular mechanisms underlying eosinophilic inflammation and role of small molecular compounds and probiotics on EoE.
4. Pathways cross-active between allergic inflammation, COVID- and cancer- induced inflammation: how and why the compounds tackle these pathways.
5. Molecular understand of diet and probiotic for preventing food allergy.
6. Skin microbiota and inflammation in eczema and molecular targets by natural compounds.
Keywords: Probiotics, IgE, eosinophilic inflammation, natural compounds, Food allergy, asthma, eczema, EoE. BCL6, CXCL13
Important Note: All contributions to this Research Topic must be within the scope of the section and journal to which they are submitted, as defined in their mission statements. Frontiers reserves the right to guide an out-of-scope manuscript to a more suitable section or journal at any stage of peer review.
