Initiating mechanisms of food allergy: Oral tolerance versus allergic sensitization.
Level 5 - mechanism / opinion, no new human data
Narrative review of mechanisms without systematic methodology or primary human data.
PubMed 17218079 · doi:10.1016/j.biopha.2006.11.003
What was done
Narrative review discussing the immunological functions of gut-associated lymphoid tissue in discriminating between pathogens and harmless dietary antigens. The authors review mechanistic factors that determine whether exposure to food proteins leads to the induction of oral tolerance or allergic sensitization.
What was found
The abstract reports no numerical data or effect estimates. It qualitatively describes that the default immune response to dietary antigens is oral tolerance—active inhibition of immune responses following oral exposure—and that failure or abrogation of this process leads to food allergy.
Why it matters
Provides an immunological overview of the mechanisms governing oral tolerance and the breakdown pathways leading to food hypersensitivity.
Limits
As a narrative review, it presents no primary clinical or experimental data, includes no systematic search methodology, and reports no quantitative measurements.
Cited by
- supports The human gut contains more immune cells than any other part of the body.