National Institutes of Health researchers have identified rare antibodies that could inform development of a treatment for alpha-gal syndrome (AGS), a tick-bite-associated allergic condition for which no cure currently exists.
In laboratory tests, the antibodies acted as a biological shield, successfully blocking human allergic antibodies from binding to red meat allergens, according to research published in the Journal of Clinical Investigation. AGS can trigger severe allergic reactions to a molecule called galactose-α-1,3-galactose found in red meat and other mammal products.
Approximately 110,000 suspected cases of AGS have been identified in the United States since 2010, though the actual number is likely higher because cases often go undiagnosed. People with AGS can experience symptoms ranging from gastrointestinal problems to life-threatening anaphylaxis.
The research began as an effort to identify antibodies that would target alpha-gal on malaria parasites as a potential malaria prevention strategy. Researchers isolated 42 antibodies specific to alpha-gal from cells of malaria-exposed individuals but found they did not bind effectively to the parasite.
When researchers screened the same antibodies to assess whether they could combat AGS, they found that 13 of the 42 antibodies could bind to allergens linked to the condition. Two of those antibodies blocked IgE, a type of allergic antibody, from patients with AGS from attaching to certain AGS allergens. One antibody also interfered with the activation of basophils, immune cells involved in allergic reactions.
"This discovery is also a remarkable example of how collaborative global health research can lead to breakthroughs that improve the health and well-being of Americans," said Peter Crompton, M.D., a senior investigator at NIH's National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, who co-led the research. The research team was also led by Scott Commins, M.D., Ph.D., at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.
The findings provide evidence for future studies evaluating whether alpha-gal-specific antibodies could be used to prevent allergic reactions in people with AGS, according to the researchers.