A common type of white blood cell, neutrophil, may play a significant role in anaphylactic shock due to allergy, reports a new study published in the Journal of Clinical Investigation.
Anaphylaxis is a life-threatening type of allergic reaction, where sensitivity to an allergen can cause any combination of skin, respiratory, gastrointestinal, cardiovascular or nervous system reactions. In severe cases, anaphylaxis can cause death within minutes.
Researchers at France’s l’Institut Pasteur (Pasteur Institute) worked with mice to examine the underlying pathways of an anaphylactic allergic reaction.
Previously, anaphylactic shock was thought to be caused by antibodies called mast cells which release antihistamine and other compounds into the blood stream.
The French researchers, however, found that it was the more common Immunoglobulin G (IgG) antibodies as well as the most common type of white blood cell, neutrophils, that played an important role in anaphylaxis.
"Our results therefore reveal an unexpected role for IgG, IgG receptors, and neutrophils in anaphylaxis in mice. These molecules and cells could be potential new targets for the development of anaphylaxis therapeutics if the same mechanism is responsible for anaphylaxis in humans," conclude the researchers.