Role of dendritic cells in peanut allergy

ABSTRACT

Introduction: The prevalence of peanut allergy (PA) has increased, affecting approximately 1.1% of children in Western countries. PA causes life-threatening anaphylaxis and frequently persists for life. There are no standardized curative therapies for PA, and avoidance of peanuts remains the main therapeutic option. A better understanding of the pathogenesis of PA is essential to identify new treatment strategies. Intestinal dendritic cells (DCs) are essential in the induction and maintenance of food tolerance because they present dietary allergens to T cells, thereby directing subsequent immune responses.

Areas covered: In this review, we discuss the factors related to the acquisition of oral tolerance to peanut proteins. We focus on intestinal DC-related aspects, including the latest advances in the biology of intestinal DC subtypes, effect of tolerance-inducing factors on DCs, effect of dietary components on oral tolerance, and role of DCs in peanut sensitization.

Expert commentary: Given the increasing prevalence of PA, difficulty of avoiding peanut products, and the potentially serious accidental reactions, the development of novel therapies for PA is needed. The ability of DCs to trigger tolerance or immunity makes them an interesting target for new treatment strategies against PA.

KEYWORDS:

• Peanut allergy
• dendritic cells
• tolerogenic dendritic cells
• food allergy
• food tolerance
• food allergy pathogenesis

Declaration of interest

The authors have no relevant affiliations or financial involvement with any organization or entity with a financial interest in or financial conflict with the subject matter or materials discussed in the manuscript. This includes employment, consultancies, honoraria, stock ownership or options, expert testimony, grants or patents received or pending, or royalties. Peer reviewers on this manuscript have no relevant financial or other relationships to disclose.

Additional information

Funding

Dr. Raquel Aguilera-Insunza was supported by a Chilean National Fund for Scientific and Technological Development grant (FONDECYT 11161102). Dr. Luis Venegas was supported by a Chilean National Fund for Scientific and Technological Development Grant (FONDECYT 3380572). Leticia Rojas was supported by a National Commission of Scientific and Technological Research grant (CONICYT 21171371).