Toward personalization of asthma treatment according to trigger factors

Asthma is a severe and chronic disabling disease affecting more than 300 million people worldwide. Although in the past few drugs for the treatment of asthma were available, new treatment options are currently emerging, which appear to be highly effective in certain subgroups of patients. Accordingly, there is a need for biomarkers that allow selection of patients for refined and personalized treatment strategies. Recently, serological chip tests based on microarrayed allergen molecules and peptides derived from the most common rhinovirus strains have been developed, which may discriminate 2 of the most common forms of asthma, that is, allergen- and virus-triggered asthma. In this perspective, we argue that classification of patients with asthma according to these common trigger factors may open new possibilities for personalized management of asthma.La lista completa de autores que integran el documento puede consultarse en el archivo.Facultad de Ciencias Exacta

Allergen-Specific Immunotherapy for Food Allergy: Latest Advances in Vaccines

Allergic diseases pose a global and growing health concern which has increased worldwide in the last years. Allergy results from a complex interaction between environmental factors and genes. In light of the increase in prevalence and costs of food allergy, both in developed and developing countries, effective methods of prevention and treatment would be clinically desirable since food is an integral part of life, but in some cases it can also be deadly for many people.Instituto de Estudios Inmunológicos y Fisiopatológico

Allergen-Specific Immunotherapy for Food Allergy: Latest Advances in Vaccines

Allergic diseases pose a global and growing health concern which has increased worldwide in the last years. Allergy results from a complex interaction between environmental factors and genes. In light of the increase in prevalence and costs of food allergy, both in developed and developing countries, effective methods of prevention and treatment would be clinically desirable since food is an integral part of life, but in some cases it can also be deadly for many people.Instituto de Estudios Inmunológicos y Fisiopatológico

Vaccines for COVID-19 are showing safety and high efficacy in protection

Las vacunas para COVID han mostrado parámetros aceptables de seguridad y una elevada eficacia de protección para contraer COVID-19 en los estudios de fase 3 en individuos voluntarios. Definir estrategias de vacunación y administrarlas en la mayor proporción de la población permitirá alcanzar la inmunidad de rebaño que restrinja la circulación del SARS-CoV-2. Sólo de esta manera se podrán evitar nuevas olas epidémicas y retomar hábitos de vida normales.Instituto de Estudios Inmunológicos y Fisiopatológico

Enfermedades alérgicas y alergia alimentaria a leche de vaca: potenciales soluciones para un problema en constante crecimiento

La etiología de la respuesta inmune alérgica es muy compleja y diversos factores han sido descriptos como involucrados en la inducción de las alergias. En las últimas décadas se ha observado un marcado incremento en su prevalencia y actualmente constituyen las inmunopatologías que con mayor prevalencia se presentan en el mundo. La misma tendencia se observa en las alergias alimentarias por lo cual se están realizando nuevos estudios y esfuerzos para comprender su fisiopatogenia y desarrollar terapias que permitan controlar la patología. Actualmente el principal tratamiento consiste en evitar la exposición al alergeno. Sin embargo, existen fuertes evidencias experimentales que demuestran que las inmunoterapias constituyen tratamientos promisorios para corregir el defecto que se presenta en la regulación del sistema inmune en estos desórdenes. La leche de vaca constituye el principal alergeno alimentario en numerosas regiones del mundo. Frecuentemente se utilizan fórmulas a base de proteínas de soja como sustituto lácteo en el tratamiento de la alergia a la leche de vaca y en algunos pacientes se observa la inducción de una intolerancia sin sensibilización previa a la soja. Esta observación nos llevó a estudiar la reactividad cruzada entre ambos sistemas y, a partir de la identificación de varias proteínas de la semilla de soja de reactividad cruzada con las caseínas bovinas y de la caracterización in vitro e in vivo de este fenómeno, proponemos el empleo de componentes de soja en el desarrollo de inmunoterapias tolerogénicas e inmunomodulatorias para el tratamiento de las alergias alimentarias.The etiology of allergies is very complex and several factors have been associated with the induction of these diseases. A rising prevalence of allergy was observed in the last decades and this immunopathology constitutes the most common disease worldwide. A similar trend has been described for food allergies and, hence, efforts should be focused on studies aimed at understanding its physiopathogeny and to develop novel therapies for the treatment of this disease. The most efficient treatment is the strict avoidance of the allergen. However, there are strong evidences that indicate that immunotherapies constitute corrective treatments for the impaired regulation of the immune system in allergic patients. Milk allergy is the main food allergen in many regions. Soy-based formulae are frequently used as dairy substitutes in the treatment of milk allergic patients. However, some patients develop a clinical intolerance even being not sensitized to soy. This evidence encouraged us to study the cross-reactivity between both systems. We have identified several seed proteins that cross-react with bovine caseins. The in vitro and in vivo characterization of this phenomenom led us to propose the use of soy components in the development of tolerogenic and immunomodulatory therapies for the treatment of food allergies.Laboratorio de Investigaciones del Sistema Inmun

Enfermedades alérgicas y alergia alimentaria a leche de vaca: potenciales soluciones para un problema en constante crecimiento

La etiología de la respuesta inmune alérgica es muy compleja y diversos factores han sido descriptos como involucrados en la inducción de las alergias. En las últimas décadas se ha observado un marcado incremento en su prevalencia y actualmente constituyen las inmunopatologías que con mayor prevalencia se presentan en el mundo. La misma tendencia se observa en las alergias alimentarias por lo cual se están realizando nuevos estudios y esfuerzos para comprender su fisiopatogenia y desarrollar terapias que permitan controlar la patología. Actualmente el principal tratamiento consiste en evitar la exposición al alergeno. Sin embargo, existen fuertes evidencias experimentales que demuestran que las inmunoterapias constituyen tratamientos promisorios para corregir el defecto que se presenta en la regulación del sistema inmune en estos desórdenes. La leche de vaca constituye el principal alergeno alimentario en numerosas regiones del mundo. Frecuentemente se utilizan fórmulas a base de proteínas de soja como sustituto lácteo en el tratamiento de la alergia a la leche de vaca y en algunos pacientes se observa la inducción de una intolerancia sin sensibilización previa a la soja. Esta observación nos llevó a estudiar la reactividad cruzada entre ambos sistemas y, a partir de la identificación de varias proteínas de la semilla de soja de reactividad cruzada con las caseínas bovinas y de la caracterización in vitro e in vivo de este fenómeno, proponemos el empleo de componentes de soja en el desarrollo de inmunoterapias tolerogénicas e inmunomodulatorias para el tratamiento de las alergias alimentarias.The etiology of allergies is very complex and several factors have been associated with the induction of these diseases. A rising prevalence of allergy was observed in the last decades and this immunopathology constitutes the most common disease worldwide. A similar trend has been described for food allergies and, hence, efforts should be focused on studies aimed at understanding its physiopathogeny and to develop novel therapies for the treatment of this disease. The most efficient treatment is the strict avoidance of the allergen. However, there are strong evidences that indicate that immunotherapies constitute corrective treatments for the impaired regulation of the immune system in allergic patients. Milk allergy is the main food allergen in many regions. Soy-based formulae are frequently used as dairy substitutes in the treatment of milk allergic patients. However, some patients develop a clinical intolerance even being not sensitized to soy. This evidence encouraged us to study the cross-reactivity between both systems. We have identified several seed proteins that cross-react with bovine caseins. The in vitro and in vivo characterization of this phenomenom led us to propose the use of soy components in the development of tolerogenic and immunomodulatory therapies for the treatment of food allergies.Laboratorio de Investigaciones del Sistema Inmun

The other side of the coin with vaccines for COVID-19

En este momento de la pandemia en el que disponemos de 15 vacunas autorizadas que se están utilizando en los 5 continentes, podemos asegurar que las mismas están funcionando para contener la pandemia. Luego de la administración de más de 1,6 billones de dosis en un tiempo récord de casi 5 meses, en un puñado de países (Israel, Estados Unidos, Inglaterra, etc) ya se ve el efecto que todos esperábamos. Este no es un dato menor ya que en diciembre, cuando se las empezó a administrar, no sabíamos qué eficiencia iban a mostrar en la población general y si van a servir para contener la pandemia. En varios casos, como ocurrió con Sputnik V, los datos de eficiencia (valor de protección hallado en la población general, 97.6%) superaron los de eficacia (valor hallado en las poblaciones en estudio en la fase 3, 91,5%).Instituto de Estudios Inmunológicos y Fisiopatológico

ARGENVAC: a tool to live with SARS-CoV-2

En este momento de la pandemia, mentalizarse que vamos a convivir con el virus es un aprendizaje al que debemos habituarnos luego de más de 2 años de la emergencia del SARS-CoV-2. El mundo ha cambiado en muchos aspectos y estamos frente a un enclave donde convivir con el virus será lo que nos permita retomar hábitos de vida más naturales, aunque seguramente diferentes a los pre-pandemia. La crisis sanitaria ocasionada por la COVID-19 nos ha enseñado que el ser humano es un ser social que necesita interacción entre pares para poder tener un estado saludable. Con un virus tan transmisible y peligroso, sobre todo para aquellos que son grupo de riesgo, la única herramienta que nos permite alcanzar y mantener este estado son las vacunas, y principalmente los planes de vacunación.Instituto de Estudios Inmunológicos y Fisiopatológico

State of the Art on Food Allergy Immunotherapy

Food allergy is increasing in prevalence in westernized countries, leading to significant morbidity including nutritional deficiencies and the potential for fatal anaphylaxis during accidental exposure to the allergen. The current treatment remains strict avoidance, although the disease is not cured. Allergen specific immunotherapy for food allergy is currently being actively evaluated, but is still experimental. Nevertheless, it is the only disease-modifying therapy for IgE-mediated food allergy and appears to be a promising method of desensitization and tolerance achievement. Despite the success of different protocols studied in clinical trials (oral, sublingual and epicutaneous immunotherapy), the main drawback is the appearance of adverse reactions, which impacts in the patient adherence to the treatment. The mechanisms underlying successful food desensitization are also unclear, in part because there is no standard immunotherapy protocol and different mechanisms have been proposed. The treatment variations currently being investigated increases the likelihood of finding novel or modified therapies for food allergy. In this regard, mouse models of experimental allergy constitute a valuable biological tool to elucidate and understand these mechanisms, and to evaluate novel therapeutic strategies.Facultad de Ciencias ExactasInstituto de Estudios Inmunológicos y Fisiopatológico

New Insights in Immunotherapies for Food Allergies : A Path between the Mouse Model and the Allergic Patient

Allergic diseases are the most prevalent immunopathologies worldwide. Nowadays, allergen avoidance is the unique effective treatment for allergic patients. Pre-clinical studies and clinical trials have been successful to prove that immunotherapies may accomplish mucosal mechanisms of allergen-specific tolerance, which are able to revoke the allergic sensitization. Although more than 100 years have elapsed since the first reported procedure achieved in patients sensitive to pollen, the main obstacle in these therapies still remains adverse reactions induced during treatment. The need for further studies is required to explore safe and effective therapeutic protocols. More recently, immunotherapy appears to be an attractive option for patients with food allergy, although it is still experimental. Different strategies were proposed to overcome the concerning adverse effects that compromise safety, effectiveness and compliance with treatments. At this point, translational medicine is a flourish field in the arenas of basic science, applied science, and clinical research. The use of experimental animals may provide new insights to unravel mechanisms that play key roles in desensitization and tolerance induction, and to modify existing protocols or design new therapeutic approaches. The present reviews describes the different immunotherapies that are used in allergic patients, the promising immune interventions that are currently evaluated in clinical trials and the contributions that animal models may provide to improve the quality of treatments.Facultad de Ciencias ExactasInstituto de Estudios Inmunológicos y Fisiopatológico