Friday, July 26, 2013

BREAKING: Cat Allergy Source FOUND!


Allergists and researchers have known for a long time that a protein in cat saliva known as Fel d 1 has been responsible for countless itchy and swollen eyes, sneezing fits, even asthma attacks. But no one has really understood why -- until now.

photo: Wikimedia Commons
Research done by scientists at Cambridge University's School of Veterinary Medicine indicates that it's not really the cat protein that is the culprit. Rather, it's an environmental bacterial toxin called lipopolysaccharide, or LPS.

The university calls LPS "ubiquitous" because it's found simply everywhere. It's in Listeria bacteria (which causes food poisoning), it's been implicated in the failure of implants in arthritis sufferers, and is suspected as one of the causes of chronic airway infections in people with cystic fibrosis. It's even been linked to septic shock. I could go on but you get the idea - this little bug gets around!

And now it's been ID'ed as the cause behind why some people are so deathly allergic to cats.

Evidently small amounts of LPS have been found as contaminants in cat saliva. When LPS binds with the protein Fel d 1 in cat saliva, it can cause an inordinately strong inflammatory response in a human. And when LPS is absent, the allergic response is much diminished.

photo: Wikimedia Commons
As a volunteer in a cat shelter, I've found the occasional cat that elicits a strong allergic response in me - and I've always wondered what  was different about that specific cat. Why would this cat cause itching and swelling when exposure to every other cat induces nothing of the sort?

Now I wonder if those cats might not have had greater amounts of LPS present...?

We all know that identification is the first step in finding a solution. But the news gets even better. The researchers also discovered that the part of our immune system that reacts to LPS is a pathogen recognition receptor called TLR4.

And it just so happens there is a drug already formulated to block TLR4 response. So they tested it on cat saliva contaminated by LPS.

Success! The TLR4 inhibitor blocked the body's immune response to the cat dander/LPS combo.

Dr Clare Bryant, lead author of the research from the University of Cambridge’s Department of Veterinary Medicine, said: “As drugs have already been developed to inhibit the receptor TLR4, we are hopeful that our research will lead to new and improved treatments for cat allergy sufferers.”

And since they've also discovered the same LPS contamination in the dog equivalent (a protein called Can f 6, found in dog dander), researchers believe that dog-allergy sufferers could also benefit from new drugs which inhibit TLR4.

Fabulous news for a Friday!

Maxwell: "I promise, I'm LPS-free, Momma!"
___________________
Sources:
http://www.cyberlipid.org/glycolip/glyl0005.htm
http://www.cam.ac.uk/research/news/new-research-reveals-how-cat-dander-triggers-allergic-responses
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/16735873s
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/10567263
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2569852/

21 comments:

  1. Hooray! This IS fabulous news! The Dad always takes an allergy pill before he and the Mom volunteer at the shelter. (Can you believe it? Meowmeowmans was severely allergic to cats as a child, and some kitties still make him all itchy and sneezy. MOL.)

    Hugs,

    Moosey

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  2. Hmmm. Verrrry interrrrresting.

    So are the endotoxins just coming from the environment, all around, or might it reflect some low level infection in the cat or dog (reading the abstract related to implants)? Which might respond to antibiotics to help free the owners of their allergic reaction.

    Audrey "has it", whether it is the protein or the LPS. Simba does not if Mom's reaction is a good measure.

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  3. Wow, this is GREAT news! I know there are lots of humans out there who need a kitty but can't have one right now because they are allergic. I think the scientists working on this should be up for a Nobel Prize!

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  4. I'm fine with cats but I can't get near a bunny...If I touch one at all it's major reaction time...Wonder if they have the same thing in their system

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  5. This was very interesting news and I know it will be of great benefit to a lot of people!

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  6. We read this and thought that is fantastic. Have a fabulous Friday.
    Best wishes Molly

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  7. YAY , this is pawsome news !
    Now daddy can´t say anymoore that we can only have me since he is allergic :)

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  8. First, that is the cutest darn photo with Maxwell. Our dad is allergic and gets allergy shots. Mom isn't allergic (at least not to us). She was allergic to the saliva of one of the dogs our humans had before we came along. This was a super interesting and informative post. Mom says, "thanks." Purrs and hugs, Lily Olivia, Mauricio, Misty May, Giulietta, Fiona, Astrid, Lisbeth and Calista Josette

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  9. I saw this on the national news this morning!! It is great news!

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  10. fantastic news! (and great pics)

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  11. Wow, this is pawesome news! One less reason for people ot not have cats around is always a good thing.

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  12. That is really interesting and great news for anyone with cat allergies. Now purrhaps even MORE kitties can find their furever home!

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  13. OMG.. I wanted to tell you how much I LOVE this post.. but then I got to that photo at the end and I'm just smitten!

    Seriously, if you do not have that put on canvas or framed.. I'll just have to shake my head disapprovingly.. (because seriously, what can I do to make you do something?? not a darn thing but oh how you should! It is an amazing photo!!)

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  14. This is such wonderful news. My mom has gotten so upset when people tell her they don't like cats because they are allergic to them. Maybe this will help everyone.

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  15. This is very interesting! While I am generally fine with cats, there are some who elicit some allergic response. Now I know! I wonder if LPS is also present in guinea pig saliva because I am terribly allergic to them!

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  16. très intéressant. merci pour ces informations et ces belles photos. Bon week-end
    Laurence

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  17. Gosh! I sure do hope this can help make a difference for cats so that less of them end up in shelters as a result of someone who finds out they have allergies. I also hope that more cats will then be adopted by people who want to adopt, but say they can't because they suffer from allergies.

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  18. INCREDIBLE!! We have so many family members who never come to visit because we have always had cats, and for 14 years Sibes and cats...I am sending this link to all of them!!

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  19. this is brilliant news, thanks for sharing!

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  20. Well done! I hadn't heard this. It's most encouraging!

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