A scientific paper about the mechanism of peanut allergy has been published in the renowned journal Allergy by the research group of the University of Eastern Finland and Desentum. The main peanut allergen Ara h 2 was crystallized together with an IgE antibody Fab fragment and the immunocomplex was analysed using protein crystallography and mass spectrometry.
The group discovered that a single Ara h 2 allergen can bind simultaneously three copies of an IgE antibody commonly found in peanut allergic patients. This enables the formation of large allergen-IgE complexes on mast cell or basophil surfaces and contributes to the potency of Ara h 2 in triggering allergic reactions and highlights its role in anaphylaxis. The study also revealed factors contributing to IgE cross-reactivity between Ara h 1–3 allergens.
Understanding these molecular mechanisms is key for the development of new interventions against peanut allergy.
The Open Access article can be read here: https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/all.70258