- Researchers have published new research about eosinophilic esophagitis (EoE), an inflammatory condition primarily affecting children that hinders their ability to eat.
- Their study reveals that EoE is driven by interleukin-18 (IL-18), an immune system protein, leading to inflammation and the build-up of damaging eosinophils in the esophagus.
- The research also identifies a potential treatment, VX-765, which selectively targets pathogenic eosinophils without affecting essential white blood cells generated by IL-5.
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Known as eosinophilic esophagitis (EoE), this condition is activated by food allergies or airborne allergens, leading to the accumulation of eosinophils, a specific type of white blood cell, in the esophageal lining.
Consequently, the esophagus becomes shorter and its wall thickens, resulting in difficulties with swallowing and food becoming lodged in the throat.
Detecting symptoms in children can be more challenging and it carries higher risks because feeding difficulties can result in malnutrition and weight loss as well as impacting growth.
In their study, researchers determined that EoE can be attributed to
When the body is exposed to a food allergen, it triggers a pathway responsible for controlling the innate immune system, leading to the release of proinflammatory proteins such as IL-18. This, in turn, gives rise to eosinophils that cause harm to the esophagus.
The new research revealed that effectively blocking the NLRP3 pathway, along with the release of IL-18, prevented the onset of EoE triggered by both food and airborne allergens.
Anil Mishra, PhD, a lead author of the study and the director of the…
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