title: Food allergies: the basics.
abstract: IgE-associated food allergy affects approximately 3% of the population and has severe effects on the daily life of patients-manifestations occur not only in the gastrointestinal tract but also affect other organ systems. Birth cohort studies have shown that allergic sensitization to food allergens develops early in childhood. Mechanisms of pathogenesis include cross-linking of mast cell- and basophil-bound IgE and immediate release of inflammatory mediators, as well as late-phase and chronic allergic inflammation, resulting from T-cell, basophil, and eosinophil activation. Researchers have begun to characterize the molecular features of food allergens and have developed chip-based assays for multiple allergens. These have provided information about cross-reactivity among different sources of food allergens, identified disease-causing food allergens, and helped us to estimate the severity and types of allergic reactions in patients. Importantly, learning about the structure of disease-causing food allergens has allowed researchers to engineer synthetic and recombinant vaccines.
authors: Division of Immunopathology, Department of Pathophysiology and Allergy Research, Center for Pathophysiology, Infectiology and Immunology, Medical University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria. Electronic address: Rudolf.valenta@meduniwien.ac.at.
authors: Rudolf
authors: R
authors: Valenta
authors: Division of Immunopathology, Department of Pathophysiology and Allergy Research, Center for Pathophysiology, Infectiology and Immunology, Medical University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria.
authors: Heidrun
authors: H
authors: Hochwallner
authors: Division of Immunopathology, Department of Pathophysiology and Allergy Research, Center for Pathophysiology, Infectiology and Immunology, Medical University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria.
authors: Birgit
authors: B
authors: Linhart
authors: Division of Immunopathology, Department of Pathophysiology and Allergy Research, Center for Pathophysiology, Infectiology and Immunology, Medical University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria.
authors: Sandra
authors: S
authors: Pahr
mesh_terms: D000485:Allergens / Q000009:adverse effects*; D000818:Animals; D015415:Biomarkers / Q000097:blood; D004032:Diet / Q000009:adverse effects*; D005512:Food Hypersensitivity / Q000097:blood / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000276:immunology* / Q000628:therapy; D006801:Humans; D007073:Immunoglobulin E / Q000097:blood; D007159:Immunologic Tests; D007167:Immunotherapy / Q000379:methods; D011237:Predictive Value of Tests; D012307:Risk Factors; D014612:Vaccines / Q000627:therapeutic use
chemical_list: D000485:Allergens; D015415:Biomarkers; D014612:Vaccines; D007073:Immunoglobulin E
keywords: Allergen; Diagnosis; IgE; IgE-Associated Food Allergy; Immunotherapy; Multiallergen Test; Therapy