Type I hypersensitivities, or allergies, are mediated by immunoglobulin E (IgE) which causes the release of inflammatory substances from mast cells and other effector immune cells. Horses can be allergic to a wide range of allergens, but the most common equine allergy is caused by salivary proteins from Culicoides midges. Allergy signs include itchiness, hair loss, and skin wounds. Culicoides hypersensitivity is a seasonal, recurrent disease and allergic horses only experience clinical disease during warm months when they are bit by Culicoides. They clinically recover in the winter. In horses, clinical manifestation of this allergy often occurs at 4–5 years of age, while sensitization to allergen can precede clinical signs by at least one year.
We are currently studying the role of rare peripheral immune cells that bind IgE and respond to allergen. We have characterized antibody production, basophils and monocytes longitudinally both during allergen exposure and when the horses are clinically healthy. The goal of this work is to better understand the immune mechanism of allergy and to identify predictive biomarkers of allergy for diagnostic assay development.
We also test how maternal IgE influences allergy susceptibility in neonates. We showed that foals do not produce IgE antibodies in their first year of life. However, clearly detectable amounts of IgE are transferred from mares to offspring with the colostrum after birth.
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