Discovery of immune mechanism that helps the body distinguish food from pathogens

Research from the Weizmann Institute of Israel has discovered and published special immune cells that help the body digest food safely, opening up new directions for treating allergies and digestive disorders.

On May 27, Israel's Weizmann Institute of Science (WIS) announced a breakthrough discovery in the field of immunology, identifying a special network of immune cells that allows humans to safely digest food without causing harmful reactions.

The new discovery provides a deeper understanding of the body's ability to recognize food as harmless and prevent immune system attacks. This important system ensures that everyday foods do not trigger negative immune responses such as inflammation, while still maintaining the ability to fight off pathogens.

The research, published in the journal Nature, opens up new prospects for treating food intolerances such as allergies, sensitivities and celiac disease. By understanding this natural immune mechanism, scientists hope to be able to intervene and correct when the body mistakes food for pathogens.

Scientists previously believed that dendrites played an important role in establishing oral tolerance. However, animal experiments have shown that even when dendrites are removed, the body retains the ability to accept food.

New research from WIS has identified a rare group of immune cells called ROR-gamma-t cells that are key to triggering the food tolerance chain reaction. These cells work together with four other immune cell types to suppress the activity of CD8 cells, which can attack food components if left unchecked.

Scientists have also found that during an infection, the immune system can temporarily “put on hold” the food tolerance response to prioritize dealing with bacteria, before returning to a state of balance later.

According to the research team, elucidating this mechanism not only helps understand how the body protects itself from food but also opens up potential treatment directions for millions of people living with allergies and digestive diseases caused by immune disorders./.

(Vietnam+)

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