Newly Identified Immune Cells Offer Insight into Food Allergy Prevention.

Researchers at NYU Langone Health have uncovered a specialized group of immune cells in the intestines that may hold the key to understanding and potentially treating food allergies. These cells, known as tolerogenic dendritic cells, help suppress the immune system’s response to harmless food proteins, allowing these substances to pass through the digestive system without causing inflammation.

The study, published in Nature on April 14, reveals that these cells require two proteins—Retinoic Acid-Related Orphan Receptor-gamma-t (RORγt) and PR domain-containing 16 (Prdm16)—to function correctly. Without these proteins, the immune system is more likely to overreact to food proteins, leading to conditions like food allergies and asthma. Experiments in mice showed that the absence of tolerogenic dendritic cells resulted in increased susceptibility to these disorders.

Previously, the research team had shown that these cells help regulate immune tolerance to beneficial gut bacteria, which support digestion and overall health. However, the recent findings expand their role, demonstrating their importance in maintaining tolerance to food-derived antigens as well.

“Our research identifies RORγt-expressing dendritic cells as crucial players in the immune system’s strategy to prevent food allergies,” said senior author Dr. Dan Littman, Professor of Molecular Immunology at NYU Grossman School of Medicine. “These cells not only support harmony with the microbiome but could also be vital in preventing autoimmune diseases such as Crohn’s.”

Dendritic cells are known for presenting antigens—small fragments of biological material—to T cells, which then determine whether to initiate an immune response. In the case of tolerogenic dendritic cells, however, they induce a regulatory response, causing T cells to suppress inflammation rather than promote it. This regulatory behavior ensures the body does not attack food proteins or beneficial microbes unnecessarily.

The study also identified human counterparts to these immune cells by analyzing human intestinal tissue and genetic sequencing data. While the exact prevalence of these cells in the human gut remains uncertain, their discovery paves the way for further research into their potential applications in allergy and autoimmune treatment.

Dr. Littman suggested that therapies enhancing these cells’ function could one day help treat conditions like peanut allergies. “By increasing the number of regulatory T cells using tolerogenic dendritic cells, we may be able to suppress allergic responses more effectively,” he noted.

The research was funded by several grants from the National Institutes of Health and involved contributions from NYU researchers Liuhui Fu, Rabi Upadhyay, Maria Pokrovskii, Francis Chen, Gabriela Romero-Meza, and Adam Griesemer. Dr. Littman is also affiliated with several biotechnology firms and serves on Pfizer Inc.’s board of directors.

This discovery marks a significant advancement in understanding the immune system’s role in food tolerance and opens the door to innovative treatments for allergic and autoimmune diseases.

Source:https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2025/04/250414124332.html

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