Asthma Drug Zileuton Blocks Allergic Reactions in Mice, Shows Promise for Food Allergy Treatment

A single dose of asthma medication, Zileuton, has stopped serious allergic reactions in mice by blocking food allergens from entering blood circulation.

Current asthma medication has been shown to protect mice from anaphylaxis – a possibly fatal allergic reaction.The drug, called Zileuton, has long been used to treat asthma and is now being tested in humans as a possible treatment for allergic reactions to food.

Although many people have food allergies, it is difficult to predict the risk of anaphylaxis in individuals during exposure to an allergen. researchers have worked to understand why some people with positive blood tests for food allergens have no symptoms, while others experience severe, sometimes fatal reactions.

“Our goal is to find ways to ensure that people with symptomatic food allergies tolerate exposure to allergens,” said Stephanie Eisenbarth at the North West University in Illinois.

Eisenbarth and her colleagues used groups of five to ten mice that had been sensitized to peanut allergens, meaning they were prone to anaphylaxis upon exposure to peanuts. Each mouse received a single oral dose of Zileuton approximately one hour before being fed peanut extract. A control group did not receive the medication. Researchers then monitored the mice for signs of anaphylaxis, such as a drop in body temperature and an increase in heart rate, and found that almost all the mice treated with Zileuton remained symptom-free. The control group exhibited clear signs of anaphylaxis.

Most of the proteins we eat are broken down, but some are actively transported through the intestine and into the bloodstream intact. In highly allergic individuals, these proteins trigger immune cells and cause anaphylaxis.

During an allergic reaction, the body also releases chemicals called leukotrienes. In mice,researchers discovered that leukotrienes control how many intact proteins pass through the intestine. They also found that a gene called Dpep1 is involved in regulating leukotriene breakdown.

One of the effects of Zileuton is to block 5-lipoxygenase, an enzyme necessary to produce leukotrienes. Administering the drug to mice reduced leukotriene levels, allowing Dpep1 to keep the remaining leukotrienes in check, preventing allergen absorption and blocking anaphylaxis in sensitive mice. A single oral dose of Zileuton resulted in a 95% reduction in anaphylaxis rates.

“We could take mice that normally react to food allergens and make them insensitive. We are now testing if the same drug, which is already used clinically for asthma, can reduce the absorption of allergens in the intestine of food-allergic people. if so, this could provide a treatment to prevent anaphylaxis,” explains Eisenbarth.

Jorge Emiliano Gómez Medellín at the University of Chicago said that this simple pill could provide notable relief from accidental allergen exposures. He adds that even if zileuton can prevent the absorption of food allergens,it wouldn’t change a person’s long-term sensitivity.

“nevertheless, Zileuton has the potential to become an vital asset in our fight against food allergies,” he said.