This web page was produced as an assignment for Genetics 564, an undergraduate capstone course at UW-Madison.
What is Allergic Rhinitis?
Hay fever! That's the short answer at least, allergic rhinitis is the swelling of the nasal airway in response to an allergen. Pollen, pet dander, and dust can all be allergens that trigger allergic rhinitis. [2] They do this by causing your immune system to overreact. These allergens shouldn't cause the sneezing, stuffy noes, red watery eyes, and sinus pressure that come with allergic rhinitis, but they do in people with this wide spread phenomena. [2]
Allergic rhinitis is classified as a type 1 hypersensitivity reaction, and can occur within minutes of contact with an allergen. Your immune system produces an antibody mediated response to these allergens, and the results are nothing to sneeze at. [2] |
How does TGFB1 function in the immune system?
What's wrong with TGFB1 in allergic rhinitis patients?
Many diseases can be linked to a specific mutation, or alteration, in a protein that causes the associated pathology. These mutations can change the sequence of the gene and therefore the protein. This altered protein will not be able to function in the way that the non-mutated protein would have, and that is what causes the disease.
Allergic rhinitis is a little bit different. There is no specific mutation of TGFB1 that causes the disease. In this disease, TGFB1 is over expressed. That means that allergic patients have a higher level of TGFB1 proteins in their tissues.[1] Allergic rhinitis isn't restricted to this over expression of TGFB1 however. It's caused by a sort of chain reaction that occurs when an allergen is introduced to the immune system.
Informing ourselves on new facts and current research is always important, and allergic rhinitis is a widespread issue. According to the American Academy of Allergy, Asthma, and Immunology, allergic rhinitis affects somewhere between 10% and 30% of the worldwide population. And even if you don't suffer from allergic rhinitis, chances are you know someone who does.
You may be asking yourself whether we can treat allergic rhinitis or not. There are several widely known allergy medications, as well as home remedies that people try. However, considering the over expression of TGFB1 will help us zero in on a treatment that really works. To learn more about controlling TGFB1 over expression, visit the page on chemical genomics.
Allergic rhinitis is a little bit different. There is no specific mutation of TGFB1 that causes the disease. In this disease, TGFB1 is over expressed. That means that allergic patients have a higher level of TGFB1 proteins in their tissues.[1] Allergic rhinitis isn't restricted to this over expression of TGFB1 however. It's caused by a sort of chain reaction that occurs when an allergen is introduced to the immune system.
Informing ourselves on new facts and current research is always important, and allergic rhinitis is a widespread issue. According to the American Academy of Allergy, Asthma, and Immunology, allergic rhinitis affects somewhere between 10% and 30% of the worldwide population. And even if you don't suffer from allergic rhinitis, chances are you know someone who does.
You may be asking yourself whether we can treat allergic rhinitis or not. There are several widely known allergy medications, as well as home remedies that people try. However, considering the over expression of TGFB1 will help us zero in on a treatment that really works. To learn more about controlling TGFB1 over expression, visit the page on chemical genomics.
References |
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[1] Salib, R. J. 2007. Transforming Growth Factor-β Gene Expression Studies in Nasal Mucosal Biopsies in Naturally Occurring Allergic Rhinitis. Annals of The Royal College of Surgeons of England, 89(6), 563–573. http://doi.org/10.1308/003588407X202164
[2] Pawankar, R., Mori, S., Ozu, C., & Kimura, S. 2011. Overview on the pathomechanisms of allergic rhinitis. Asia Pacific Allergy, 1(3), 157–167. http://doi.org/10.5415/apallergy.2011.1.3.157
[3] Nasiri, R., Hirbod-Mobarakeh A., et al. 2016. Gene polymorphisms of interleukin-10 and transforming growth factor beta in allergic rhinitis. Allergologia et Immunopathologia, 44(2), 125-30. 10.1016/j.aller.2015.05.010
[4] Frischmeyer-Guerrerio, PA., et al. 2013. TGFβ receptor mutations impose a strong predisposition for human allergic disease. Sci Transl Med. 5(195), 195ra94. https://dx.doi.org/10.1126/scitranslmed.3006448
[5] Wan, Y. Y., & Flavell, R. A. (2007). “Yin-Yang” functions of TGF-β and Tregs in immune regulation. Immunological Reviews, 220, 199–213. http://doi.org/10.1111/j.1600-065X.2007.00565.x
[6] Fransson M., Benson M., Wennergren G. & Cardell L. O. A role for neutrophils in intermittent allergic rhinitis. Acta Otolaryngol 124, 616–620 (2004). [PubMed]
Images
[1] Edited from: http://all-thats-jas.com/2012/01/your-nose-made-you-who-you-are.html
[2] https://wallpaperscraft.com/download/roses_flowers_composition_tenderness_white_background_40957/2048x1152
[3] https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2614905/figure/F1/
[4] https://www.realhealthmedical.com/allergy
[2] Pawankar, R., Mori, S., Ozu, C., & Kimura, S. 2011. Overview on the pathomechanisms of allergic rhinitis. Asia Pacific Allergy, 1(3), 157–167. http://doi.org/10.5415/apallergy.2011.1.3.157
[3] Nasiri, R., Hirbod-Mobarakeh A., et al. 2016. Gene polymorphisms of interleukin-10 and transforming growth factor beta in allergic rhinitis. Allergologia et Immunopathologia, 44(2), 125-30. 10.1016/j.aller.2015.05.010
[4] Frischmeyer-Guerrerio, PA., et al. 2013. TGFβ receptor mutations impose a strong predisposition for human allergic disease. Sci Transl Med. 5(195), 195ra94. https://dx.doi.org/10.1126/scitranslmed.3006448
[5] Wan, Y. Y., & Flavell, R. A. (2007). “Yin-Yang” functions of TGF-β and Tregs in immune regulation. Immunological Reviews, 220, 199–213. http://doi.org/10.1111/j.1600-065X.2007.00565.x
[6] Fransson M., Benson M., Wennergren G. & Cardell L. O. A role for neutrophils in intermittent allergic rhinitis. Acta Otolaryngol 124, 616–620 (2004). [PubMed]
Images
[1] Edited from: http://all-thats-jas.com/2012/01/your-nose-made-you-who-you-are.html
[2] https://wallpaperscraft.com/download/roses_flowers_composition_tenderness_white_background_40957/2048x1152
[3] https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2614905/figure/F1/
[4] https://www.realhealthmedical.com/allergy