title: A mini review of qRT-rtPCR technology application in uncovering the mechanism of food allergy and in the search for novel interventions.
abstract: This mini review targets the inclusion of recent selected citations, between the year 2006 and 2012, that implement the qRT-rtPCR technology in their experimental designs, targeting the uncovering of the mechanism of food allergy. In addition, this same technology was implemented in specific experimental designs, aiming at finding novel nutritional, herbal medicine, and tolerance interventions against food allergy. The approach of using qRT-rtPCR technology helped in studying the dynamics of transcription of cytokines and chemokines in intestinal dendritic cells of the experimental animals during the allergic reaction to food. The suppression of transcription of specific cytokines or chemokines by nutritional, herbal medicine, and tolerance interventions was instrumental in the search for finding novel remedies for this health condition, that was traditionally managed by avoidance of offending foods in the diet.
authors.affiliation: American University of Beirut, Department of Animal and Veterinary Sciences, Faculty of Agricultural and Food Sciences, American University of Beirut, PO Box 11- 0336, Beirut, Lebanon. eb01@aub.edu.lb
authors.forename: Elie K
authors.initials: EK
authors.lastname: Barbour
authors.forename: Houssam A
authors.initials: HA
authors.lastname: Shaib
authors.forename: Diana M
authors.initials: DM
authors.lastname: Ahmadieh
authors.forename: Taha
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Kumosani
authors.forename: Shady K
authors.initials: SK
authors.lastname: Hamadeh
authors.forename: Esam
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Azhar
authors.forename: Steve
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Harakeh
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D018925:Chemokines / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D016207:Cytokines / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D003713:Dendritic Cells / Q000378:metabolism; D004032:Diet; D005512:Food Hypersensitivity / Q000276:immunology* / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000628:therapy*; D006801:Humans; D007108:Immune Tolerance; D051379:Mice; D008807:Mice, Inbred BALB C; D020133:Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction / Q000379:methods*
chemical_list: D018925:Chemokines; D016207:Cytokines