Cysteinyl leukotrienes stimulate gut absorption of food allergens to promote anaphylaxis in mice

Science. 2025 Aug 7;389(6760):eadp0240. doi: 10.1126/science.adp0240. Epub 2025 Aug 7.

Abstract

Food-specific immunoglobulin E (IgE) triggers life-threatening anaphylaxis; however, for unclear reasons, some people with food-specific IgE are asymptomatic upon allergen consumption. We studied strains of mice with different sensitivities to anaphylaxis when orally challenged with allergen to identify possible causes. In resistant C57BL/6 mice, intestinal goblet cells transported less food allergen than did anaphylaxis-susceptible strains, even before allergic sensitization. In a forward genetic screen, resistance was correlated with dipeptidase 1 (Dpep1) variants. DPEP1 is expressed in intestinal epithelium and catabolizes leukotriene D4 (LTD4). Blocking DPEP1 with cilastatin, deleting Dpep1, or administering LTD4 orally enhanced allergen transport in resistant mice. Conversely, pretreatment of susceptible mice with a synthesis inhibitor, zileuton, abrogated allergen absorption and oral anaphylaxis, indicating that this could be an approach to treating food allergy.

MeSH terms

  • Allergens* / immunology
  • Allergens* / metabolism
  • Anaphylaxis* / genetics
  • Anaphylaxis* / immunology
  • Animals
  • Cilastatin / pharmacology
  • Cysteine* / metabolism
  • Dipeptidases* / antagonists & inhibitors
  • Dipeptidases* / genetics
  • Dipeptidases* / metabolism
  • Food Hypersensitivity* / genetics
  • Food Hypersensitivity* / immunology
  • Food Hypersensitivity* / metabolism
  • GPI-Linked Proteins* / genetics
  • GPI-Linked Proteins* / metabolism
  • Goblet Cells / immunology
  • Goblet Cells / metabolism
  • Hydroxyurea / analogs & derivatives
  • Immunoglobulin E / immunology
  • Intestinal Absorption* / drug effects
  • Intestinal Absorption* / immunology
  • Intestinal Mucosa / immunology
  • Intestinal Mucosa / metabolism
  • Leukotrienes* / metabolism
  • Mice
  • Mice, Inbred C57BL
  • Ovalbumin / immunology

Substances

  • Allergens
  • Cysteine
  • cysteinyl-leukotriene
  • Immunoglobulin E
  • Leukotrienes
  • Ovalbumin
  • zileuton
  • dipeptidase 1
  • Dipeptidases
  • GPI-Linked Proteins
  • Cilastatin
  • Hydroxyurea