Latest news with #FrontiersInImmunology
The Sun
11-07-2025
- Health
- The Sun
Hay fever symptoms could be prevented with ‘molecular shield' applied to the nose
A "MOLECULAR shield" placed in the nose could prevent hay fever symptoms, a study suggests. Scientists have engineered an antibody that they say "opens the door to a new generation of precision allergy treatments". The antibody was found to block hay fever symptoms when applied to the noses of mice. Around one in five people are allergic to pollen, known as hay fever, striking millions with streaming noses, sneezing, itchy eyes and coughing during the spring and summer. Scientists say more and more people have developed the allergy in the past few decades, with the number likely to continue rising. Aside from changes to health and genetics, scientists reckon factors like improved hygiene, widespread use of antibiotics and antiseptics, lifestyle changes, diet, pollution, and climate change are behind the massive surge in hay fever sufferers. Most people try to combat their symptoms with a mix of antihistamines, nasal sprays and eye drops. But a new study, published in the journal Frontiers in Immunology, suggests "molecular shields" could be used to combat hay fever in the future. Researchers in Kazakhstan have engineered an antibody, which when applied to the inside of the nose stopped mice developing hay fever and asthma symptoms in response to mugwort pollen. Mugwort is a type of weed that grows in the UK, which produces large amounts of allergenic wind-borne pollen. Its pollen season is generally between mid-June to late August. The plant is the most common cause of pollen allergies in central Asia and parts of Europe, where between 10 and 15 per cent of people with hay fever are allergic to it. Mum reveals stinging herself with nettles banishes hay fever symptoms 'in minutes' Study senior author Prof Kaissar Tabynov said: "This is the first time a monoclonal antibody designed to block a specific pollen allergen has been delivered directly into the nose, and been shown to protect against allergy symptoms in the upper and lower airways. "In the future, similar antibodies could be developed for other major pollen allergens, such as ragweed or grass. "This opens the door to a new generation of precision allergy treatments that are fast-acting, needle-free, and tailored to individual allergen sensitivities." The treatment is a type of "allergen-specific monoclonal antibody therapy". It involves researchers developing antibodies that either specifically recognise the allergen itself and block it, or bind to antibodies released by the immune system against allergies, known as IgE antibodies. Both stop the allergen - in this case hay fever - from triggering an allergic reaction. Up until now, researchers have injected antibodies into the bloodstream to achieve this. Prof Tabynov, of the Kazakh National Agrarian Research University (KazNARU), said: "Our method acts immediately and locally at the lining of the nose, by neutralising the allergen on contact. "This 'molecular shield' not only prevents IgE antibodies from being activated, but may also reduce inflammation through other mechanisms, such as calming immune cell responses and promoting regulatory pathways." The research team injected mice with a dose of mugwort pollen, stimulating them to produce antibodies against it. Hay fever first aid kit Analyse your symptoms and find the best medication kit for you... Antihistamines Antihistamines (cetirizine or loratadine) work by blocking histamine in the body, which is released when the body detects something it thinks is harmful. Histamine causes blood vessels to expand and the skin to swell, but in people with hay fever, also causes an allergic reaction. That's the watering eyes, blocked nose, rashes and so on. Max Wiseberg, airborne allergens expert and creator of HayMax, says that many antihistamines are available on prescription, such as Telfast, which you can see your GP for or get through an online doctor, such as LloydsPharmacy. Telfast, and other prescription-only antihistamine tablets, work in the same way as over-the-counter antihistamines, but are stronger and intended to help with more severe symptoms. 'Get your prescription in advance of the season so you have your medication in time to start taking it at the right time,' he says. 'Some are best taken at least one month before the hay fever season starts." Nasal sprays A nasal spray can be effective in controlling congestion and stuffiness. Pharmacists can advise on nasal sprays (sodium cromoglicate, ipratropium bromide or decongestant), and eye drops, too. Nasal sprays can also help with other symptoms of hay fever 'because the medicine is targeted directly to the nose, which is where the vast majority of allergens enter the body', Max says. Independent pharmacist Rita Ghelani says: 'Try Xlear nasal spray, which contains xylitol, and has anti-bacterial properties and keeps the nasal lining moist. 'If symptoms are more severe, then try an anti-inflammatory nasal spray – sometimes referred to as a steroid nasal spray – which can take a few days to work. 'Start with one that contains beclomethasone, which is used twice a day, in the morning and at night.' Rita also advises cleaning the nose with a saline nasal spray before a steroid spray, saying: 'It will remove sticky mucus from the nasal passage, thus improving the effectiveness of the medication.' Eye drops If itchy eyes are your primary concern, Rita says: 'Try using sodium cromoglicate eye drops. "These make the eyes less sensitive to allergens such as pollen and reduce irritation. "They need to be used four times a day to keep the levels of the active ingredient high enough to be effective. "Keep using them even if symptoms improve. 'Using a good eye drop to lubricate the eyes may also help with dry eyes during the summer months.' The mice were then humanely euthanised and their spleens harvested to isolate white blood cells. The white blood cells were fused with lab-grown cancer cells from mice with multiple myeloma, to make an antibody against mugwort pollen. Researchers then placed the antibodies in the noses of five mice, who were allergic to mugwort pollen after being injected with pollen extract. A further five mice made allergic to pollen weren't given the antibody, while another five weren't injected with pollen or given the antibody. Three weeks later, all the mice were exposed to mugwort pollen three times. The results showed that mice given the antibody displayed a "major reduction" in allergy symptoms compared to the other rodents. They had less swelling in response to the pollen - a common allergic reaction in rodents. They also rubbed their nose less frequently, indicating less irritation. They were able to breathe normally when exposed to pollen and they also had less inflammation inside their nostrils. The researchers concluded that the "molecular shield" was "effective" in blocking allergic reactions against mugwort pollen triggered by IgE, at least in mice. Prof Tabynov added: "Before this treatment can be tested in people, we need to adapt the antibody to make it suitable for humans - a process called 'humanisation' - and conduct additional preclinical safety and efficacy studies. "If these are successful and provided we have adequate support, we could begin clinical trials in two to three years, though bringing it to market would likely take five to seven years. "We are already planning for this transition and working on scaling up production."
Gizmodo
11-07-2025
- Health
- Gizmodo
This ‘Molecular Shield' Might Stop Pollen Before It Wrecks Your Nose
Every year, pollen seasons grow longer and more intense—to the great misery of those suffering from pollen allergies—myself included. There's only so much one can do with antihistamines or hot towels, and no amount of protective measures—masks, firmly shut windows, you name it—appears to offer any protection from the endless sneezing, runny noses, and itchy eyes. But what if, by spraying something akin to a nasal spray, you could thwart the onslaught of those pesky allergens before they latch onto your sensitive nasal passages? This was the 'simple but powerful idea' that inspired Kaissar Tabynov, who led the efforts to create a 'molecular shield' that intercepts allergens the moment they approach our airways. For the experiment, they targeted mugwort pollen, which is the most common cause of pollen allergy in Central Asia and Europe. Tabynov and colleagues reported the first proof-of-principle for this technology, in this instance with mice, in a paper published today in Frontiers in Immunology. 'Allergies are often viewed as inconvenient but minor conditions, yet for millions, they severely reduce quality of life and can even be life-threatening,' Tabynov, director of the International Center for Vaccinology at Kazakh National Agrarian Research University in Kazakhstan, told Gizmodo in an email. 'We believe this could be the beginning of a new class of anti-allergy interventions—smart, fast, and easy to use—that could protect people during allergy season in a way no existing therapy does.' Here's how the 'shield' works. Researchers first develop a monoclonal antibody, or a lab-made protein designed to attach to a specific molecule. In this case it's aimed at a major allergy-causing protein found in mugwort pollen. These antibodies are applied to the nose, effectively snatching the allergens away from our natural antibodies, which trigger allergic responses when bound with allergens. The immune system is an intricate network of cells and hormones, so adjusting the treatment such that it wouldn't disrupt the natural system of mice proved to be a major challenge, explained Tabynov. Not only that, mugwort pollen is actually a combination of multiple allergy-causing particles (partly the reason they're so insufferable), meaning Tabynov's team had to focus on the most clinically relevant parts of the allergen complex. After several adjustments, the team succeeded in making an antibody treatment that curbed nasal inflammation and asthma symptoms in mice, and it did so without harming the animals' natural antibodies. Although the duration of the treatment was shorter than Tabynov hoped, he told Gizmodo that he and his team have already devised a strategy to potentially make the treatment last longer. 'What's exciting about our approach is that it shows how precise, targeted biologics can be used not just for chronic therapy but for prevention, delivered right where allergens strike,' Tabynov added. 'Our approach is non-invasive, needle-free, and fast-acting [and] reduces the allergen load on the immune system and may help prevent the progression of allergic rhinitis into more severe conditions such as bronchial asthma.' As fellow pollen allergy sufferers are aware, allergic reactions tend to set off a chain reaction of misery throughout the body. The idea of blocking allergens before they ever reach the nose would be a huge relief for many patients, especially those with medical complications that prevent them from taking standard antihistamine pills. It'd also be a time-saving, cheaper alternative to immunotherapy sessions, which can take years to have any effect. So, is this something we'll be picking up at a local pharmacy any time soon? Depends. Tabynov's most optimistic estimate is that the first human-based studies could happen within two to three years. Additional adjustments will be needed to extend the treatment's protective effects on human nasal surfaces. But for lifelong pollen patients, it sounds like a promising start.
The Independent
06-06-2025
- Health
- The Independent
This common prescription drug could reduce deaths by sepsis, study finds
Critically ill patients with sepsis who are given statins may be more likely to survive, new research suggests. Researchers set out to explore whether the cholesterol-busting drugs may bring additional benefits for patients. The new study examined information on sepsis patients who received statins during a stint in intensive care and compared it with patients in a similar situation who did not receive statins. Some 14.3 per cent of 6,000 sepsis patients who were given statins died within 28 days. This is compared with 23.4 per cent of 6,000 patients who did not receive statin therapy. The research team from China said that this equates to a 39 per cent reduced risk of death within a month. The research, based on data from thousands of patients at a hospital in Israel between 2008 and 2019, also found that 7.4 per cent of statin patients died while in the intensive care unit compared with 13.6 per cent of those who did not receive statins. And during their overall hospital stay, some 11.5 per cent of sepsis patients who were given statins died, compared with 19.1 per cent of sepsis patients who did not take statins. However, it appeared that those who were not prescribed statins had a slightly shorter hospital stay compared with those who did receive them – an average of eight days compared with almost 10 days. 'We found that statin users exhibited decreased 28-day all-cause mortality,' the authors wrote in the journal Frontiers in Immunology. Sepsis is a life-threatening reaction to an infection that occurs when the immune system overreacts and starts to damage the body's tissues and organs. In the UK, 245,000 people are affected by sepsis every year. UK sepsis experts said that 'anything which might reduce the burden of a condition which claims one in five lives worldwide needs to be rigorously explored' as they called for larger trials to confirm the findings. Statins are known as cholesterol-busting drugs because they can help lower the level of low-density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol in the blood. But experts said that they also have other benefits, including reducing inflammation and antibacterial effects. The research team called for larger trials to confirm their findings. 'Our large, matched cohort study found that treatment with statins was associated with a 39 per cent lower death rate for critically ill patients with sepsis, when measured over 28 days after hospital admission,' said Dr Caifeng Li, the study's corresponding author and an associate professor at Tianjin Medical University General Hospital in China. 'These results strongly suggest that statins may provide a protective effect and improve clinical outcomes for patients with sepsis.' Commenting on the study, Dr Ron Daniels, founder and chief executive of the UK Sepsis Trust, said: 'It has been known for some time that the anti-inflammatory properties of statins confer a survival benefit on those who take them if they develop sepsis. 'Whilst previous studies have failed to show a similar survival benefit in treating people with sepsis with statins, this new study supports calls for a large, multi-country, randomised control trial. 'Anything which might reduce the burden of a condition which claims one in five lives worldwide needs to be rigorously explored.'
BreakingNews.ie
06-06-2025
- Health
- BreakingNews.ie
Statins can reduce sepsis deaths, study suggests
People who are critically ill with sepsis may be more likely to survive if they are given statins, a new study suggests. Researchers wanted to explore whether the cholesterol-busting drugs may bring additional benefits for patients. Advertisement The new study examined information on sepsis patients who received statins during a stint in intensive care and compared it with patients in a similar situation who did not receive statins. Some 14.3 per cent of 6,000 sepsis patients who were given statins died within 28 days. This is compared with 23.4 per cent of 6,000 patients who did not receive statin therapy. The research team from China said that this equates to a 39 per cent reduced risk of death within a month. Advertisement The research, based on data from thousands of patients at a hospital in Israel between 2008 and 2019, also found that 7.4 per cent of statin patients died while in the intensive care unit compared with 13.6 per cent of those who did not receive statins. And during their overall hospital stay, some 11.5 per cent of sepsis patients who were given statins died, compared with 19.1 per cent of sepsis patients who did not take statins. However, it appeared that those who were not prescribed statins had a slightly shorter hospital stay compared with those who did receive them – an average of eight days compared with almost 10 days. 'We found that statin users exhibited decreased 28-day all-cause mortality,' the authors wrote in the journal Frontiers in Immunology. Advertisement Sepsis is a life-threatening reaction to an infection that occurs when the immune system overreacts and starts to damage the body's tissues and organs. In Ireland, about 12,000 people are affected by sepsis every year, according to the HSE. Sepsis experts said that 'anything which might reduce the burden of a condition which claims one in five lives worldwide needs to be rigorously explored' as they called for larger trials to confirm the findings. Statins are known as cholesterol-busting drugs because they can help lower the level of low-density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol in the blood. Advertisement But experts said that they also have other benefits, including reducing inflammation and antibacterial effects. The research team called for larger trials to confirm their findings. 'Our large, matched cohort study found that treatment with statins was associated with a 39 per cent lower death rate for critically ill patients with sepsis, when measured over 28 days after hospital admission,' said Dr Caifeng Li, the study's corresponding author and an associate professor at Tianjin Medical University General Hospital in China. 'These results strongly suggest that statins may provide a protective effect and improve clinical outcomes for patients with sepsis.' Advertisement Ireland Sepsis: Doctors launch awareness campaign about le... Read More Commenting on the study, Dr Ron Daniels, founder and chief executive of the Sepsis Trust, said: 'It has been known for some time that the anti-inflammatory properties of statins confer a survival benefit on those who take them if they develop sepsis. 'Whilst previous studies have failed to show a similar survival benefit in treating people with sepsis with statins, this new study supports calls for a large, multi-country, randomised control trial. 'Anything which might reduce the burden of a condition which claims one in five lives worldwide needs to be rigorously explored.'
Yahoo
06-06-2025
- Health
- Yahoo
This common prescription drug could reduce deaths by sepsis, study finds
Critically ill patients with sepsis who are given statins may be more likely to survive, new research suggests. Researchers set out to explore whether the cholesterol-busting drugs may bring additional benefits for patients. The new study examined information on sepsis patients who received statins during a stint in intensive care and compared it with patients in a similar situation who did not receive statins. Some 14.3 per cent of 6,000 sepsis patients who were given statins died within 28 days. This is compared with 23.4 per cent of 6,000 patients who did not receive statin therapy. The research team from China said that this equates to a 39 per cent reduced risk of death within a month. The research, based on data from thousands of patients at a hospital in Israel between 2008 and 2019, also found that 7.4 per cent of statin patients died while in the intensive care unit compared with 13.6 per cent of those who did not receive statins. And during their overall hospital stay, some 11.5 per cent of sepsis patients who were given statins died, compared with 19.1 per cent of sepsis patients who did not take statins. However, it appeared that those who were not prescribed statins had a slightly shorter hospital stay compared with those who did receive them – an average of eight days compared with almost 10 days. 'We found that statin users exhibited decreased 28-day all-cause mortality,' the authors wrote in the journal Frontiers in Immunology. Sepsis is a life-threatening reaction to an infection that occurs when the immune system overreacts and starts to damage the body's tissues and organs. In the UK, 245,000 people are affected by sepsis every year. UK sepsis experts said that 'anything which might reduce the burden of a condition which claims one in five lives worldwide needs to be rigorously explored' as they called for larger trials to confirm the findings. Statins are known as cholesterol-busting drugs because they can help lower the level of low-density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol in the blood. But experts said that they also have other benefits, including reducing inflammation and antibacterial effects. The research team called for larger trials to confirm their findings. 'Our large, matched cohort study found that treatment with statins was associated with a 39 per cent lower death rate for critically ill patients with sepsis, when measured over 28 days after hospital admission,' said Dr Caifeng Li, the study's corresponding author and an associate professor at Tianjin Medical University General Hospital in China. 'These results strongly suggest that statins may provide a protective effect and improve clinical outcomes for patients with sepsis.' Commenting on the study, Dr Ron Daniels, founder and chief executive of the UK Sepsis Trust, said: 'It has been known for some time that the anti-inflammatory properties of statins confer a survival benefit on those who take them if they develop sepsis. 'Whilst previous studies have failed to show a similar survival benefit in treating people with sepsis with statins, this new study supports calls for a large, multi-country, randomised control trial. 'Anything which might reduce the burden of a condition which claims one in five lives worldwide needs to be rigorously explored.'
