A team of researchers has discovered a human protein that inhibits hay fever, atopic dermatitis and other allergies, a finding that could lead to the development of "super medicines" to treat such ailments.

The achievement by a University of Tsukuba team, led by Prof. Akira Shibuya, was reported by the scientific journal Nature Immunology last Sunday.

According to the article, the protein exists naturally in humans. Named Allergin-1, the team discovered the protein on the surface of mice and human mast cells. Mast cells produce and discharge histamine and other allergy-causing substances.

The team found that Allergin-1 inhibits mast cells from transmitting signals to discharge histamine and similar substances.

The team also confirmed mice deficient in Allergin-1 suffered severe allergies.

"If medicines enhancing Allergin-1 functions are developed, we can block the discharge of histamine and allergy-causing substances," Shibuya said. "We can then fundamentally suppress most allergies and provide sufferers with much better treatments."

Currently, medicines preventing the body from activating histamine and similar substances are used to treat allergy sufferers.

Allergies are triggered when the body's immune system overreacts to protect the body from alien substances. Allergic rhinitis and anaphylaxis caused by repeated bee stings are among some allergies commonly suffered.

For example, during an allergic reaction, pollen and bee toxin are bound to the antibody immunoglobulin E (IgE) and stimulate mast cells via a particular protein.

By discharging highly toxic substances such as histamine, allergic reactions are designed to expel parasitic worms from the body. These reactions can therefore cause severe symptoms.

-The Yomiuri Shimbun/Asia News Network