PrideInThisTeam Posted July 26, 2013 Share Posted July 26, 2013 Scientists have discovered how allergic reactions to cats are triggered, raising hopes of preventative medicine. A University of Cambridge team has identified how the body's immune system detects cat allergen, leading to symptoms such as coughing and sneezing. New treatments to block this pathway raise hopes of developing medicines to protect sufferers, they say. Allergy UK says the research is "a big step forward" in understanding how cat allergen causes allergic reactions. Researchers led by Dr Clare Bryant of the University of Cambridge studied proteins found in particles of cat skin, known as cat dander, which is the most common cause of cat allergy. They found that cat allergen activates a specific pathway in the body, once in the presence of a common bacterial toxin. This triggers a large immune response in allergy sufferers, causing symptoms such as coughing, wheezing, sneezing and a runny nose.Dr Bryant told BBC News: "We've discovered how the cat allergy proteins activate the host immune cells. "By understanding the triggering mechanism, there are now drugs that have been designed that are in clinical trials for other conditions, such as sepsis, that could potentially then be used in a different way to treat cat allergy and to prevent cat allergy." The charity Allergy UK said the research, published in Journal of Immunology, was a big step forward in understanding how cat allergen causes such severe allergic reactions. "Cat allergen is particularly difficult to avoid as it is a 'sticky' molecule that is carried into every building on people's shoes and clothes," said director of clinical services Maureen Jenkins. "It can also still be found in a home, on the walls and ceiling or fittings, even a few years after a cat has ceased to live there. "Therefore, this new information identifying the specific receptor interaction in the immune system could pave the way for treatments for those with persistent disease triggered by cat allergen and, in the future, potentially dog and house dust mite allergen." Cats are among the most common culprits for pet allergiesPeople with cat allergies are allergic to proteins in the cat's saliva, urine, and dander (dried flakes of skin)Symptoms of a cat allergy can develop in a few minutes or take hours to appearSome people with allergic asthma have severe flare-ups after coming in contact with a cat Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Offensive Threat Posted July 26, 2013 Share Posted July 26, 2013 Im allergic to cats. I cope with this very well by not going near cats. Its 100% effective. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Special Ed Posted July 26, 2013 Share Posted July 26, 2013 Cats are best. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
hudson bay rules Posted July 26, 2013 Share Posted July 26, 2013 who cares if cats get allergies? I mean really. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
apollo Posted July 26, 2013 Share Posted July 26, 2013 Im allergic and also have a cat. Seriously a cure would be fantastic. Although after a year u barely notice it and your body becomes almost immune to it. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
avelanch Posted July 26, 2013 Share Posted July 26, 2013 That's a little difficult for people with souls. (Seriously, cats are precious) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
avelanch Posted July 26, 2013 Share Posted July 26, 2013 Cats are best Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Remy Posted July 26, 2013 Share Posted July 26, 2013 Dogs, FTW. Very allergic to cats as well, I have to avoid them. And the current allergy meds do nothing. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gabes24 Posted July 26, 2013 Share Posted July 26, 2013 allergies to cats and dogs.. so brutal lol, hair saliva and what not all get me, SOLUTION COME SOON Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tortorella's Rant Posted July 26, 2013 Share Posted July 26, 2013 Cats are awesome. Especially somewhere where you don't really have a backyard so you can't let your dog out to play and the only outdoor time they would ever get is when you take them for a walk. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dogbyte Posted July 26, 2013 Share Posted July 26, 2013 Im allergic and also have a cat. Seriously a cure would be fantastic. Although after a year u barely notice it and your body becomes almost immune to it. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ilduce39 Posted July 26, 2013 Share Posted July 26, 2013 Cats are awesome. Especially somewhere where you don't really have a backyard so you can't let your dog out to play and the only outdoor time they would ever get is when you take them for a walk. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
avelanch Posted July 26, 2013 Share Posted July 26, 2013 I've hugged every cat I've met. I hope to have a cat shelter in my closet one day. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
VICanucksfan5551 Posted July 26, 2013 Share Posted July 26, 2013 I've hugged every cat I've met. I hope to have a cat shelter in my closet one day. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
apollo Posted July 26, 2013 Share Posted July 26, 2013 I actually find I can become immune to a particular cat but that I am still allergic in general to all of them. Cats are annoying anyway. They're like children that like to piss you off. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GLASSJAW Posted July 26, 2013 Share Posted July 26, 2013 cats are for people who enjoy companionship with cuddly, cute little creatures dogs are for people who need constant reassurance over their value on the planet by projecting their terrible emotions onto a dumb smelly creature Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ilduce39 Posted July 26, 2013 Share Posted July 26, 2013 cats are for people who enjoy companionship with cuddly, cute little creatures dogs are for people who need constant reassurance over their value on the planet by projecting their terrible emotions onto a dumb smelly creature Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
viking mama Posted July 26, 2013 Share Posted July 26, 2013 cats are for people who enjoy companionship with cuddly, cute little creatures dogs are for people who need constant reassurance over their value on the planet by projecting their terrible emotions onto a dumb smelly creature Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
n00bxQb Posted July 26, 2013 Share Posted July 26, 2013 I actually find I can become immune to a particular cat but that I am still allergic in general to all of them. Cats are annoying anyway. They're like children that like to piss you off. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
avelanch Posted July 26, 2013 Share Posted July 26, 2013 cats are for people who enjoy companionship with cuddly, cute little creatures who try to claw the hell out of you at a moments notice and pee all over the house and couldn't care less if you were in their life dogs are for people who need constant reassurance over their value on the planet by projecting their terrible emotions onto a dumb smelly creature Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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