A type of immune cell called TH2 has posed a puzzle for scientists: The cells help fight off invaders, but they also seem to be involved in the immune freakout that leads to allergic reactions. But in a study published in Science Translational Medicine, researchers identify the subtype of TH2 cell — what they call a TH2A cell — that appears to perpetrate the allergic response. Here’s what Erik Wambre of the Benaroya Research Institute at Virginia Mason told me about the work.
What about TH2A cells contributes to allergies?
First, they secrete much more cytokine, which boosts the antibody response in a bad way. The other thing is, it seems they have a better capacity to migrate from the blood to the tissue, like the GI tract or the lungs.
Now that you’ve identified the TH2A cells, what comes next?
We can now use molecules and drugs to see if we can destroy those bad cells. The hope is that if you target those cells, you can maybe treat or stop all your allergies at one time, and with fewer side effects because you won’t touch the good TH2 cells.