Subtitle: A Promising Discovery to Transform Allergic Asthma Care
A groundbreaking protein called LMAN1 has emerged as a game-changer in the treatment of allergies. Recent research has revealed that LMAN1 binds with common allergens, triggering inflammatory reactions in individuals with allergic asthma. This groundbreaking finding has the potential to redefine the approach to treating allergic asthma, earning it a prestigious $1.5M grant from the National Institutes of Health to support further investigation.
Allergy sufferers, particularly those with allergic asthma, face challenging times during the spring season. However, the tireless efforts of Dr. Justine Tigno-Aranjuez, a researcher at UCF, may someday alleviate the burden of common allergies.
Traditionally, research and therapies for allergic asthma have focused on targeting inflammatory cytokines in the body that respond to allergens, leading to excessive mucus production, wheezing, and breathing difficulties. Drugs like Omalizumab, Dupilumab, Mepolizumab, and Reslizumab are commonly prescribed to suppress or block the various cytokines and antibodies responsible for the asthmatic response. However, these medications take effect once airway inflammation is already underway.
Dr. Tigno-Aranjuez sought a fresh approach to prevent allergen receptors from reacting in the first place. Employing a technique known as LRC-TriCEPS, which identifies receptors in cells, she investigated a common allergen—house dust mite. Through this technology, a previously unknown cell protein called LMAN1 was discovered, exhibiting an unexpected role in the body’s response to allergens.
These groundbreaking findings were recently published in Cell Reports, representing Dr. Tigno-Aranjuez’s most impactful paper to date.
“When we initially made this discovery, our objective was to understand the function of LMAN1 as an allergen receptor and investigate existing knowledge about it in the context of allergies or allergic asthma. Surprisingly, this protein hadn’t received much attention in these fields,” Dr. Tigno-Aranjuez explained.
Until her breakthrough, LMAN1 was predominantly recognized as a cargo receptor, responsible for transporting proteins both inside and outside cells. However, Dr. Tigno-Aranjuez demonstrated that LMAN1 and house dust mite allergens can bind together on the cell surface, triggering inflammatory or allergic reactions. Her research further revealed that this binding process relies on specific mannose sugar structures present on the house dust mite allergens. This discovery holds significant potential, as many other common allergens, including pollen and fungi, undergo mannosylation—a modification involving the addition of mannose sugars.
“We believe that this broad receptor may not be limited to dust mites alone because many other allergens undergo mannosylation. This opens up possibilities for extensive recognition of various allergens. Understanding how LMAN1 identifies dust mites and the subsequent consequences of this recognition could have far-reaching therapeutic implications across multiple contexts, which is what we are currently exploring,” Dr. Tigno-Aranjuez elaborated.
Recognizing the potential impact of UCF’s research, the National Institutes of Health has awarded Dr. Tigno-Aranjuez a prestigious $1.5M R01 grant to investigate the role of LMAN1 in the expression of other mannosylated allergens.
Dr. Tigno-Aranjuez collaborates with the Cleveland Clinic on her LMAN1 research. Dr. Bin Zhang, an Associate Professor at the Lerner Research Institute and an expert in LMAN1, serves as the co-investigator for this study.
“Until now, LMAN1 was largely acknowledged as a protein involved in transporting proteins from within cells to the cell surface. This research is the first to reveal an entirely new function of LMAN1 as a receptor, enabling the transportation of proteins, such as allergens, from outside of cells to the inside. This discovery could pave the way for novel treatment avenues,” Dr. Zhang explained.
Given the hundreds of thousands of allergic asthma cases reported annually in the United States alone, and the even greater numbers worldwide, this research represents a significant stride towards helping affected individuals.
“Asthma is so prevalent that some may assume we have an ample array of treatments to address it. However, the truth is that we can always benefit from additional options and improvements in existing treatments,” Dr. Tigno-Aranjuez emphasized. “Many treatments require specific clinical criteria or are financially inaccessible due to cost or lack of insurance coverage. Introducing a potential universal treatment like this would undoubtedly be a breakthrough.”
Currently, Dr. Tigno-Aranjuez and her team are conducting further research to validate their hypothesis that LMAN1 also recognizes other mannosylated allergens, such as pollen. If confirmed, this could have broad implications for future therapies targeting numerous prevalent allergens.
Originally from the Philippines, Dr. Tigno-Aranjuez immigrated to the United States to pursue her graduate and postdoctoral training at Case Western University in Cleveland. Since joining UCF in 2015, she has dedicated her research efforts to understanding immune signaling pathways involved in chronic inflammatory diseases, including asthma and Crohn’s disease.
Reference: “LMAN1 is a receptor for house dust mite allergens” by Madelyn H. Miller, Lindsay G. Swaby, Vanessa S. Vailoces, Maggie LaFratta, Yuan Zhang, Xiang Zhu, Dorilyn J. Hitchcock, Travis J. Jewett, Bin Zhang and Justine T. Tigno-Aranjuez, 3 March 2023, Cell Reports.
DOI: 10.1016/j.celrep.2023.112208
Table of Contents
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) about allergy treatment
What is LMAN1 and how does it impact allergy treatment?
LMAN1 is a recently discovered protein that binds with common allergens, triggering inflammatory reactions in allergic asthma. This finding has the potential to redefine the treatment approach for allergies. By understanding how LMAN1 recognizes allergens and its consequences, researchers aim to develop more effective therapies.
What is the significance of the research on LMAN1?
The research on LMAN1 sheds light on a previously unrecognized protein involved in allergic asthma. It reveals that LMAN1 can bind with allergens on cell surfaces, leading to inflammatory or allergic reactions. This discovery has significant therapeutic potential and may offer a broader approach to treating various allergens beyond dust mites.
How does LMAN1 differ from existing treatments for allergic asthma?
Unlike conventional treatments that target inflammatory cytokines after airway inflammation occurs, LMAN1 aims to prevent allergen receptors from reacting in the first place. This unique approach could potentially revolutionize allergy treatment by providing a more universal and proactive therapy for allergic asthma and other common allergens.
What is the role of LMAN1 in recognizing allergens?
LMAN1 acts as a receptor for allergens, facilitating their transportation from outside the cells to the inside. It specifically recognizes mannose sugar structures present on allergens like house dust mites. This recognition and binding process trigger inflammatory or allergic reactions. The research suggests that LMAN1 may have a broad receptor function, recognizing various mannosylated allergens.
How could the discovery of LMAN1 impact future therapies?
The discovery of LMAN1 opens up new possibilities for developing innovative therapies for allergies. By understanding how LMAN1 interacts with allergens, researchers can explore targeted interventions to disrupt this binding process and prevent allergic reactions. This could potentially lead to more effective and universal treatments for allergic asthma and other common allergens, benefiting a larger population of allergy sufferers.
More about allergy treatment
- Cell Reports: LMAN1 is a receptor for house dust mite allergens
- National Institutes of Health (NIH): Grant awarded for further investigation
- UCF Today: Breakthrough research on LMAN1 and allergy treatment
- Cleveland Clinic: Collaborative research on LMAN1
- Allergic Living: LMAN1’s potential impact on allergy therapies
5 comments
Interesting stuff, but some minor spelling and punctuation errors. Please proofread and edit before publishing. Let’s maintain high standards of scientific communication!
the scientific community needs more studies like this! kudos to dr. tigno-aranjuez for her innovative research and for securing that grant. i’m eager to see how they confirm lman1’s role with other allergens and explore potential therapies. fingers crossed for more breakthroughs!
wow this is amazing research on lman1 protein! who would have thought it could be such a game changer in treating allergies? love how they found this new receptor and it might work for many different allergens too. super cool!
omg, this discovery is mindblowing! lman1 could totally transform how we treat allergic asthma. and the fact that it hasn’t been given much attention before makes it even more exciting. can’t wait to see how this research progresses!
as someone with allergic asthma, this news gives me hope! finally, a new approach to preventing allergen reactions instead of just treating the symptoms. i hope they find more about lman1 and develop better therapies for all of us struggling with allergies.