New Discovery May Lead To New Class Of Allergy Drugs

If you've ever wondered why some allergic reactions progress quickly and may even become fatal, a new research report published in the February 2009 issue of the **Journal of Leukocyte Biology** provides an important part of the answer. In the report, scientists from Queen's University of Belfast, University of Oxford and Trinity College Dublin show for the first time that eotaxin, a chemical that helps immune cells locate the site of infection, blocks basic "fighter" cells from transforming into "seeker" **dendritic cells**, resulting in a heightened **allergic response**. More "Eurekalert":[ http://www.eurekalert.org/pub_releases/2009-01/foas-ndm012909.php]

---