​​New mRNA treatment could completely eliminate peanut allergies

One of our world’s most dangerous and deadly allergies could soon have a miracle cure according to new research from scientists working at the University of California.

Peanut allergies affect nearly two percent of the global population according to a recent study in the European Journal of Allergy and Clinical Immunology, but those afflicted have had little hope of finding a solution to their deadly condition, at least until now. 

Researchers at the University of California have just made a major breakthrough in their peanut allergy research and believe they may have found a way to reverse peanut allergies through the use of a technology you might know, messenger RNA (mRNA).

Inspired by the pandemic, the researchers developed a “first-of-its-kind nanoparticle” based on the principles of the Covid-19 vaccines according to a press release on the work. 

The nanoparticle is so small that it can deliver mRNA to specific cells in the liver. Those cells are then able to teach the body to defend itself against dangerous peanut proteins. 

Testing in mice has not only already shown that the technology can reverse peanut allergies in test subjects, but also that it can prevent the mice from developing the allergy altogether.

“As far as we can find, mRNA has never been used for an allergic disease,” explained study co-author and Director of Research at the California NanoSystems Institute at UCLA Dr. André Nel in a press release on his findings. 

“We’ve shown that our platform can work to calm peanut allergies, and we believe it may be able to do the same for other allergens, in food and drugs, as well as autoimmune conditions.” Dr. Nel added. 

According to New Atlas’ Bronwyn Thompson, the research being done by Dr. Nel and his co-authors built on previous research from 2021 found that protein fragments known as epitopes delivered to the liver could alleviate egg allergies in mice.

Thompson also noted that in 2022, additional research into peanut allergies revealed an epitope that had a connection with the deadly condition. 

“If you’re lucky enough to choose the correct epitope, there’s an immune mechanism that puts a damper on reactions to all of the other fragments,” Dr. Nel explained.

“That way, you could take care of a whole ensemble of epitopes that play a role in disease,” the University of California professor continued.

According to Tech Explorist, the researchers included a sugar molecule on the surface of their nanoparticle in order to help it bind to specific cells in the liver, and then tested four groups of mice to see which group performed better. 

One group of mice was given the nanoparticle with the sugar mRNA delivery system, another was given the nanoparticle with the mRNA delivery system without the added sugar molecule, a third was given the updated nanoparticle but with no coding for any protein or epitope, and a fourth group was used as the study’s control. 

The mice who received the nanoparticle and the sugar-enhanced mRNA delivery system fared the best of all groups under two test conditions, leading the researchers to conclude that their new method for treating peanut allergies could be viable in humans. 

The researchers noted that if further lab studies prove successful, their new technology could not only be used to treat peanut allergies but other allergies and autoimmune diseases as well, though they’re currently working on applying their work to type 1 diabetes.