Researchers Identify Promising Allergy Gene

Researchers at National Jewish Medical and Research Center have identified a protein that protects mice from developing a severe and deadly allergic disease. Mice lacking the protein develop severe allergic and inflammatory disease of the skin and lungs. The discovery suggests that the protein, known as ndfip1, could be a therapeutic target for allergic diseases, especially atopic dermatitis.

“Ndfip1 helps keep activated T cells in check, preventing them from secreting chemicals known to promote allergic reactions,” said Paula Oliver, PhD, lead author of the study and a postdoctoral researcher in the lab of Philippa Marrack, PhD “Our findings are especially exciting because the ndfip1 gene in humans resides within a section of DNA that is associated with allergies.”