Multi-Omics Approach to Understanding Peanut Allergy

Mount Sinai researchers have identified novel genes that are associated with the severity of peanut allergy along with ways in which these genes interact with other genes during allergic reactions. The findings were published yesterday in the Journal of Allergy and Clinical Immunology and could lead to better treatments for peanut allergy.

Peanut allergy varies widely in severity and is the leading cause of fatal food-related anaphylaxis. The tests used to determine the existence of a peanut allergy don’t offer any clues as to whether an individual ingesting a peanut could experience a minor rash, major swelling, or life-threatening issues such as difficulty breathing or cardiovascular complications. The researchers were especially curious about why the severity of reactions varies so much.

The study involved 21 children ages 7–17 with peanut allergy, who were given gradually increasing doses of peanut until they displayed an allergic response. The scientists drew blood from the participants at three times—before they ate, as they reacted, and after their reaction—which allowed them to analyze both the transcriptome and the epigenome while the children reacted.

Using this genome-wide approach, the team identified more than 300 genes and 200 CpG sites that are associated with reaction severity. Combining these data using integrative networks, the team also characterized key interactions between gene expression, CpG sites, and reaction severity.

Not only did they identify novel genes associated with the severity of peanut allergy, but they also managed to characterize ways in which these genes interact with other genes and CpG sites during allergic reactions to regulate biological processes.

While the findings support recognized roles for adaptive immunity in allergy, they also suggest that neutrophil-mediated immunity plays a prominent role in reaction severity. “We know neutrophil-mediated immunity is part of immune responses, and this study suggests it may play a central role in the severity of peanut allergic reactions,” says senior author Supinda Bunyavanich.

This study suggests new possibilities for treating peanut allergy. Additionally, the researchers hope that future studies will lead to the identification of biomarkers that can predict who is likely to have severe responses to peanuts without having to expose them first.