According to the Asthma and Allergy Foundation of America, one in five Americans suffer from allergies. Although there is no cure, symptoms can be managed and in some cases even avoided with the help of medication. The hope is that as experts continue to better understand allergies, they'll be able to come up with more effective treatments and possibly even cures for these afflictions.
Recently, scientists from Johns Hopkins Children's Center and the Johns Hopkins Institute of Genetic Medicine made an exciting discovery that reveals a genetic glitch that may cause all different types of allergies.
According to a press release, "aberrant signaling by a protein called transforming growth factor-beta, or TGF-beta, may be responsible for disrupting the way immune cells respond to common foods and environmental allergens."
"Disruption in TGF-beta signaling does not simply nudge immune cells to misbehave, but appears to singlehandedly unlock the very chain reaction that eventually leads to allergic disease," said Dr. Harry Dietz, senior author of the study and a cardiologist at Johns Hopkins Children's Center, in a press release.
The scientists made this discovery about TGF-beta after realizing that patients with Loeys-Dietz syndrome (LDS) — which is also characterized by a glitch in this protein — exhibited abnormally high rates of allergies.
As experts get to the bottom of what causes allergies, they'll be able to develop better methods of preventing and treating the irritating symptoms associated with them. In the meantime, it's a good idea to talk to your allergy specialist about ways to increase your quality of life. Additionally, there are steps you can take around the house to limit allergens, such as using a whole house air purifier and using hypoallergenic bedding.
