VUB researchers find way to isolate allergy-causing substances

Researchers of the ‘Skin Immunology and Immune Tolerance’ research group at the Dermatology Department of the Vrije Universiteit Brussel and UZ Brussel have found an innovative method for easily isolating the substances that trigger allergies from the blood. It is an important step to better understand the diseases.

Door Belgian

&nbsp- 29/05/2022 om 08:00

The substances that the researchers were able to isolate are the IgE antibodies. These play an important role in allergic diseases, such as asthma, hay fever, food allergies and anaphylaxis. Until now, the isolation of the IgE antibodies from the blood was only possible in highly specialized labs, but thanks to the new method, the antibodies can be isolated with few resources.

Thirty percent population

«IgE antibodies often provoke allergic reactions in the lungs, nose, intestines and skin. These antibodies also play a role in autoimmune diseases. Thanks to this method, every life science laboratory is now able to isolate IgE molecules for research quickly and at an acceptable cost,” explains VUB professor Jan Guthermuth.

It is an important breakthrough, because more than thirty percent of the European population suffers from one or more allergic diseases. Thanks to the new methods, it enables researchers and doctors to provide a better diagnosis and to initiate targeted preventive treatment.