Invariant NKT cells are more abundant in peanut-allergic adults and a subset of CD8 iNKT cells are depleted after peanut oil exposure.

Introduction: Peanut allergy is one of the most prevalent food allergies globally. Currently, most research into the mechanisms involved in protein allergy focuses on the protein allergens under investigation, and information on the function of accompanying compounds, such as lipids, is scarce. Thus, this research investigates the role of peanut-associated lipids and invariant natural killer T (iNKT) cells in peanut allergy using a novel, human, assay.

The Role of Lipids in Allergic Sensitization: A Systematic Review.

Immunoglobulin E (IgE)-mediated allergies are increasing in prevalence, with IgE-mediated food allergies currently affecting up to 10% of children and 6% of adults worldwide. The mechanisms underpinning the first phase of IgE-mediated allergy, allergic sensitization, are still not clear. Recently, the potential involvement of lipids in allergic sensitization has been proposed, with reports that they can bind allergenic proteins and act on immune cells to skew to a T helper type 2 (Th2) response.