Scratching the skin primes the gut for allergic reactions to food, mouse study suggests

(NIH/National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases) Scratching the skin triggers a series of immune responses culminating in an increased number of activated mast cells -- immune cells involved in allergic reactions -- in the small intestine, according to research conducted in mice. This newly identified skin-gut communication helps illuminate the relationship between food allergy and atopic dermatitis (a type of eczema), a disease characterized by dry, itchy skin. The NIAID-supported study was led by researchers at Boston Children's Hospital.
Source: EurekAlert! - Medicine and Health - Category: International Medicine & Public Health Source Type: news