We investigated the effects of retinoic acid (RA), a form of vitamin A, on allergies, particularly focusing on the mould allergen Alt a 1. By examining how RA interacts with this allergen, we aimed to understand if it could help alleviate allergic reactions.
Our study involved assessing the RA and Alt a 1 complex in various settings, including lab tests with immune cells from individuals allergic to Alternaria, and experiments using sensitized mice. We found that when Alt a 1 was bound to RA, it significantly decreased certain immune responses associated with allergies, particularly the release of a key marker called IL-13 from immune cells.
Interestingly, this RA complex reduced the allergen's ability to bind to IgE, the antibody responsible for allergic reactions, suggesting that RA may mask allergic triggers. In our mouse experiments, those treated with the RA-bound allergen had fewer severe allergic reactions compared to those treated with the regular allergen.
Overall, our findings point towards the potential of using RA in therapies aimed at managing Alternaria allergies, suggesting a new, promising strategy for enhancing allergic immunotherapy.