NYU Study Identifies Intestinal Immune Cells That Prevent Food Allergies

Researchers at NYU Langone Health have identified a specialized group of immune cells in the intestines, called tolerogenic dendritic cells, that regulate immune responses to food proteins, preventing allergic reactions. These cells allow food to pass through the body without triggering inflammation, a process that can malfunction and lead to allergies.

The study, published in Nature, revealed that tolerogenic dendritic cells rely on two proteins, Retinoic Acid-Related Orphan Receptor-gamma-t (RORγt) and PR domain-containing 16 (Prdm16), to suppress immune activity against tolerated proteins. Mice lacking these cells were more likely to develop food allergies and asthma due to an imbalance between inflammatory and anti-inflammatory T cells.

Dendritic cells typically present antigens—tiny fragments of biological material—to T cells, prompting an immune response. However, tolerogenic dendritic cells present antigens from food or friendly gut microbes in a way that programs T cells to become regulatory rather than inflammatory. Regulatory T cells suppress inflammation when encountering these antigens again, maintaining immune tolerance.

Previous research by the team showed that tolerogenic dendritic cells also regulate immune tolerance to gut bacteria that aid digestion and influence organ functions. The new study expands their role, demonstrating their importance in preventing food allergies and inflammation. 

The researchers also identified human equivalents of these cells by analyzing intestinal tissue and sequencing data. While their abundance and broader roles in human immunity remain unclear, the findings provide a foundation for further investigation into their development and signaling mechanisms. 

Senior author Dan Littman noted the potential for therapeutic applications: “If further experiments prove successful, our findings could lead to innovative ways to treat food allergies. For example, if someone has a peanut allergy, perhaps we can use tolerogenic dendritic cells to help create more regulatory T cells to suppress an allergic response to peanut molecules.”

Future research aims to explore how these cells could address food allergies and autoimmune conditions like Crohn’s disease.