Bees can help treat allergies

Allergic diseases, which have become one of the most common chronic disorders of the immune system, are rapidly increasing worldwide. Although allergen-specific immunotherapy (AIT) remains the only potentially cure, its efficacy varies widely. An exception is insect venom therapy, which shows a success rate of more than 90-95%.

A new study conducted by scientists from the Luxembourg Institute of Health (LIH) in collaboration with leading European institutions has succeeded in unravelling the mechanisms of early immune tolerance in a scientific breakthrough.

Scientists have found that key changes in the immune system begin as early as 8 hours after the first immunotherapy treatment. One of the main findings was the unexpected role of the IL-6 molecule. Usually associated with inflammation, in this case IL-6 is activated at a low level, helping the body to adapt to allergens and preventing severe reactions.

B-regulatory cells (Bregs), which maintain immune balance, also play an important role, as do unique hybrid cells that combine the properties of several immune types. These cells help to link innate and adaptive immune responses, ensuring long-term tolerance.

The study, based on the analysis of more than 200 patient blood samples, brought together scientists from Luxembourg, Germany and Belgium. Using advanced algorithms, data on more than 200 million immune cells were processed and 25,000 genes were analysed, making it the most in-depth study in the history of allergy research.

"This is a real achievement for allergology," notes Prof Sebastian Bode from LIH. "We have for the first time studied in detail the molecular processes underlying early immune tolerance."

The findings open new horizons for the treatment of not only insect sting allergies, but also other forms of allergic diseases. The principles of the study can be adapted to develop personalised therapies to tackle the growing epidemic of allergies worldwide.