Food allergies are a significant health concern globally, affecting up to 10% of the population, particularly young children. Peanut allergy, in particular, is one of the most common allergies and can lead to severe, life-threatening reactions. The stress of managing food allergies impacts not only individuals but also their families, the healthcare system, and the food industry. The oral food challenge test is the gold standard for diagnosing allergies, but it is complex and carries health risks. Skin prick and blood tests are often inaccurate, leading to misdiagnoses and unnecessary food restrictions.
A research team led by Prof. Dr. Alexander Eggel and Prof. Dr. Thomas Kaufmann from the University of Bern developed a new test in 2022 as an alternative to standard allergy tests. The test mimics the allergic reaction in a controlled environment, offering a safer and more accurate diagnostic method. A clinical study was conducted to evaluate the effectiveness of this new test on samples from children and adolescents with peanut allergies and a healthy control group. The research team collaborated with partners from the Hospital for Sick Kids in Toronto, Canada, and found that the new test had higher diagnostic accuracy compared to current methods.
The developed test, known as the Hoxb8 mast cell activation test (Hoxb8 MAT), simulates allergic reactions by exposing mast cells to blood serum from allergic patients in a laboratory setting. Mast cells are immune cells that play a crucial role in allergic reactions by binding IgE antibodies produced in response to allergens. The mast cells are sensitized to the allergen and, upon contact, trigger an allergic reaction. By quantifying mast cell activation with different allergen doses, the test can determine a patient’s allergic response without the need for oral consumption of the allergen.
The study analyzed serum samples from 112 children and adolescents with known peanut allergies to assess the diagnostic accuracy of the Hoxb8 MAT test. The results showed that the test accurately identified allergic patients based on mast cell activation, with a diagnostic accuracy of 95%. Comparisons with standard allergy tests such as allergen-specific IgE antibody measurements and skin tests revealed that the Hoxb8 MAT test outperformed these methods, providing a more reliable and functional assessment of allergic reactions.
The new mast cell activation test offers several advantages over traditional allergy tests, including ease of administration, rapid results, and fewer false-negative outcomes. The test is based on stable blood serum, which can be easily collected through a simple blood sample and stored for future use. The technology developed at the University of Bern demonstrates the successful translation of basic research into clinical practice and has the potential to simplify diagnosis and management of allergies for patients and healthcare providers. The findings from this study on peanut allergies can also be applied to other allergies, offering a simple and effective diagnostic solution.
