Why do only certain molecules drive allergies? A feature now identified among some allergy-causing proteins is their ability to form pores in cells

Allergy-triggering proteins share a common characteristic

Everyone knows someone with an allergy, and the chances are that you’re allergic to something yourself. Allergies arise as a result of the immune system overreacting to allergens: otherwise harmless substances such as dust mites, pollen or certain foods¹. Various substances can act as allergens, and one of the enduring puzzles in allergy research is why only some of the many proteins we encounter reliably trigger allergic responses². Writing in Nature, Shi et al.³ address part of this mystery by identifying a property shared by some allergens — the ability to form large pores in epithelial cells that line airways. These pores enable calcium to enter and trigger the release of molecules that alert the immune system to danger and can promote allergy⁴.

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doi: https://doi.org/10.1038/d41586-025-02136-2

This story originally appeared on: Nature - Author:Bart N. Lambrecht