How everyday chemicals can promote food allergies
Dissecting How Xenobiotics Act as Adjuvants for Oral Allergic Sensitization
['FUNDING_R01'] · YALE UNIVERSITY · NIH-11297265
This project looks at whether common environmental chemicals make people more likely to develop food allergies and how body temperature affects severe allergic reactions.
Quick facts
| Phase | ['FUNDING_R01'] |
|---|---|
| Study type | Nih_funding |
| Sex | All |
| Sponsor | YALE UNIVERSITY (nih funded) |
| Locations | 1 site (NEW HAVEN, UNITED STATES) |
| Trial ID | NIH-11297265 on ClinicalTrials.gov |
What this research studies
As someone worried about food allergies, this research explores how exposure to common chemicals (xenobiotics) might make you more likely to become allergic to foods by activating a sensor called TRPA1. The team uses animal models to study how these chemicals act like adjuvants—boosting immune responses to foods—and how allergic inflammation changes temperature preference. They found that allergic inflammation drives a preference for cold and that colder temperatures help survival in severe allergic reactions in animals. The project aims to map the pathways linking the chemical sensor, nerves, and temperature responses to find points where therapies could intervene.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: People with IgE-mediated food allergies, a history of severe allergic reactions, or those at high risk of developing food allergies would be most relevant to follow this work.
Not a fit: Patients with non-IgE food intolerances, airborne allergies unrelated to food, or conditions not driven by allergic inflammation may not benefit directly from this research.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this work could point to new targets like the TRPA1 pathway or simple temperature-based strategies to prevent food allergies or reduce harm during anaphylaxis.
How similar studies have performed: Prior animal studies have linked TRPA1 to chemical-induced allergic sensitization and avoidance behaviors, but translating these findings into human treatments remains largely untested.
Where this research is happening
NEW HAVEN, UNITED STATES
- YALE UNIVERSITY — NEW HAVEN, UNITED STATES (ACTIVE)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: WANG, ANDREW — YALE UNIVERSITY
- Study coordinator: WANG, ANDREW
About this research
- This is an active NIH-funded research project — typically early-stage science, not a clinical trial accepting patient enrollment.
- Some NIH-funded labs run parallel clinical studies or seek volunteers for related work. To check, contact the principal investigator or institution listed above.
- For full project details, budget, and progress reports, visit the official NIH RePORTER page below.
Conditions: Allergic Disease