Firstpost
  • Home
  • Video Shows
    Vantage Firstpost America Firstpost Africa First Sports
  • World
    US News
  • Explainers
  • News
    India Opinion Cricket Tech Entertainment Sports Health Photostories
  • Asia Cup 2025
Apple Incorporated Modi ji Justin Trudeau Trending

Sections

  • Home
  • Live TV
  • Videos
  • Shows
  • World
  • India
  • Explainers
  • Opinion
  • Sports
  • Cricket
  • Health
  • Tech/Auto
  • Entertainment
  • Web Stories
  • Business
  • Impact Shorts

Shows

  • Vantage
  • Firstpost America
  • Firstpost Africa
  • First Sports
  • Fast and Factual
  • Between The Lines
  • Flashback
  • Live TV

Events

  • Raisina Dialogue
  • Independence Day
  • Champions Trophy
  • Delhi Elections 2025
  • Budget 2025
  • US Elections 2024
  • Firstpost Defence Summit
Trending:
  • Charlie Kirk shot dead
  • Nepal protests
  • Russia-Poland tension
  • Israeli strikes in Qatar
  • Larry Ellison
  • Apple event
  • Sunjay Kapur inheritance row
fp-logo
Why does the immune system respond to allergens by triggering itching in the skin?
Whatsapp Facebook Twitter
Whatsapp Facebook Twitter
Apple Incorporated Modi ji Justin Trudeau Trending

Sections

  • Home
  • Live TV
  • Videos
  • Shows
  • World
  • India
  • Explainers
  • Opinion
  • Sports
  • Cricket
  • Health
  • Tech/Auto
  • Entertainment
  • Web Stories
  • Business
  • Impact Shorts

Shows

  • Vantage
  • Firstpost America
  • Firstpost Africa
  • First Sports
  • Fast and Factual
  • Between The Lines
  • Flashback
  • Live TV

Events

  • Raisina Dialogue
  • Independence Day
  • Champions Trophy
  • Delhi Elections 2025
  • Budget 2025
  • US Elections 2024
  • Firstpost Defence Summit
  • Home
  • Health
  • Why does the immune system respond to allergens by triggering itching in the skin?

Why does the immune system respond to allergens by triggering itching in the skin?

Myupchar • November 2, 2020, 17:05:51 IST
Whatsapp Facebook Twitter

Your skin is the first protective barrier against every pathogen and allergen in the world. So, when your skin itches, you should know that it may have come into contact with something that’s harmful and causing this reaction.

Advertisement
Subscribe Join Us
Add as a preferred source on Google
Prefer
Firstpost
On
Google
Why does the immune system respond to allergens by triggering itching in the skin?

Your skin is the first protective barrier against every pathogen and allergen in the world. So, when your skin itches, you should know that it may have come into contact with something that’s harmful and causing this reaction. This primal, biological response involves not just the cells in your skin but the entire immune system. Why allergens cause allergic reactions According to Johns Hopkins Medicine, an allergic reaction that leads to itching begins in the immune system. When a substance your body is allergic to, like dust, mold or pollen, comes in contact with skin, it causes the immune system to react and produce antibodies that attack and eliminate the allergen. This reaction not only causes itching but can also present through other symptoms like wheezing, runny nose, watery or itchy eyes and sneezing. A new study published in the journal Immunity explains the exact processes through which these allergic reactions occur. The researchers behind this study start by pointing out that while the exact mechanism behind the immune response to pathogens was well understood by scientists, the knowledge about the immune response to allergens has been uncertain at best. Allergic reactions like itching occur when the dendritic cells activate the T cells necessary to the release of antibodies but the exact steps and processes involved were unknown before this study. The role of sensory nerves in allergic reactions The study revealed that these dendritic cells, which act as the messengers between the innate and adaptive immune systems, are located right next to neurons that respond to allergies in the skin. These neurons are known as CD301b+ DCs (dendritic cells). When an allergen comes in contact with the skin, these dendritic cell neurons are activated and they release a neuropeptide known as substance P, which acts as both a neurotransmitter and a neuromodulator. Substance P then directly takes the message from the dendritic cells to the lymph nodes. The lymph nodes activate the T cells in response, and the T cells then launch an attack against the invading allergen. The scientists also showed that these sensory neurons that release substance P are found in both isolated cell samples as well as complete living organisms like mice. These findings suggest that sensory neurons present in the skin play a huge role in the activation of the immune system in response to allergens. The researchers further tested if chemically blocking the allergy-sensing dendritic cells in mice can stop the activation of allergic responses like itching. Success in stopping this activation would suggest that modulating this neural response pathway may help devise better therapies and medications for those who have seasonal allergies or severe allergic reactions. This breakthrough study therefore not only provides better understanding of cell mechanisms involved in allergic reactions but also shares the platform on which future allergy therapies can be based. For more information, read our article on Allergy.  Health articles in Firstpost are written by myUpchar.com, India’s first and biggest resource for verified medical information. At myUpchar, researchers and journalists work with doctors to bring you information on all things health.

Tags
NewsTracker Reuters Immune system skin Runny nose allergy myupchar Wheezing
End of Article
Latest News
Find us on YouTube
Subscribe
End of Article

Impact Shorts

The new human organ scientists discovered in 2020 can help fight cancer of head and neck: Research

The new human organ scientists discovered in 2020 can help fight cancer of head and neck: Research

Dutch scientists discovered a new organ in the human throat, the tubarial salivary glands, during prostate cancer imaging. This finding could revolutionize head and neck cancer care by refining radiation therapy, reducing side effects, and enhancing patient quality of life.

More Impact Shorts

Top Stories

Charlie Kirk, shot dead in Utah, once said gun deaths are 'worth it' to save Second Amendment

Charlie Kirk, shot dead in Utah, once said gun deaths are 'worth it' to save Second Amendment

From governance to tourism, how Gen-Z protests have damaged Nepal

From governance to tourism, how Gen-Z protests have damaged Nepal

Did Russia deliberately send drones into Poland’s airspace?

Did Russia deliberately send drones into Poland’s airspace?

Netanyahu ‘killed any hope’ for Israeli hostages: Qatar PM after Doha strike

Netanyahu ‘killed any hope’ for Israeli hostages: Qatar PM after Doha strike

Charlie Kirk, shot dead in Utah, once said gun deaths are 'worth it' to save Second Amendment

Charlie Kirk, shot dead in Utah, once said gun deaths are 'worth it' to save Second Amendment

From governance to tourism, how Gen-Z protests have damaged Nepal

From governance to tourism, how Gen-Z protests have damaged Nepal

Did Russia deliberately send drones into Poland’s airspace?

Did Russia deliberately send drones into Poland’s airspace?

Netanyahu ‘killed any hope’ for Israeli hostages: Qatar PM after Doha strike

Netanyahu ‘killed any hope’ for Israeli hostages: Qatar PM after Doha strike

Top Shows

Vantage Firstpost America Firstpost Africa First Sports
Latest News About Firstpost
Most Searched Categories
  • Web Stories
  • World
  • India
  • Explainers
  • Opinion
  • Sports
  • Cricket
  • Tech/Auto
  • Entertainment
  • IPL 2025
NETWORK18 SITES
  • News18
  • Money Control
  • CNBC TV18
  • Forbes India
  • Advertise with us
  • Sitemap
Firstpost Logo

is on YouTube

Subscribe Now

Copyright @ 2024. Firstpost - All Rights Reserved

About Us Contact Us Privacy Policy Cookie Policy Terms Of Use
Home Video Shorts Live TV