Metabolomics of IgE-Mediated Food Allergy and Oral Immunotherapy Outcomes based on Metabolomic Profiling.

Background: The immunometabolic mechanisms underlying variable responses to oral immunotherapy (OIT) in patients with IgE-mediated food allergy are unknown. Objective: To identify novel pathways associated with tolerance in food allergy, we used metabolomic profiling to find pathways important for food allergy in multi-ethnic cohorts and responses to OIT. Methods: Untargeted plasma metabolomics data were generated from the VDAART healthy infant cohort (N=384), a Costa Rican cohort of children with asthma (N=1040), and a peanut OIT trial (N=20) evaluating sustained unresponsiveness (SU, protection that lasts after therapy) versus transient desensitization (TD, protection that ends immediately afterwards). Generalized linear regression modeling and pathway enrichment analysis identified metabolites associated with food allergy and OIT outcomes. Results: Compared with unaffected children, those with food allergy were more likely to have metabolomic profiles with altered histidines and increased bile acids. Eicosanoids (e.g., arachidonic acid derivatives) (q=2.4×10 -20 ) and linoleic acid derivatives (q=3.8×10 -5 ) pathways decreased over time on OIT. Comparing SU versus TD revealed differing concentrations of bile acids (q=4.1×10 -8 ), eicosanoids (q=7.9×10 -7 ), and histidine pathways (q=0.015). In particular, the bile acid lithocholate (4.97[1.93,16.14], p=0.0027), the eicosanoid leukotriene B4 (3.21[1.38,8.38], p=0.01), and the histidine metabolite urocanic acid (22.13[3.98,194.67], p=0.0015) were higher in SU. Conclusions: We observed distinct profiles of bile acids, histidines, and eicosanoids that vary among patients with food allergy, over time on OIT and between SU and TD. Participants with SU had higher levels of metabolites such as lithocholate and urocanic acid, which have immunomodulatory roles in key T-cell subsets, suggesting potential mechanisms of tolerance in immunotherapy. Key Messages: - Compared with unaffected controls, children with food allergy demonstrated higher levels of bile acids and distinct histidine/urocanic acid profiles, suggesting a potential role of these metabolites in food allergy. - In participants receiving oral immunotherapy for food allergy, those who were able to maintain tolerance-even after stopping therapyhad lower overall levels of bile acid and histidine metabolites, with the exception of lithocholic acid and urocanic acid, two metabolites that have roles in T cell differentiation that may increase the likelihood of remission in immunotherapy. Capsule summary: This is the first study of plasma metabolomic profiles of responses to OIT in individuals with IgE-mediated food allergy. Identification of immunomodulatory metabolites in allergic tolerance may help identify mechanisms of tolerance and guide future therapeutic development.

Triggers for eosinophilic esophagitis (EoE): The intersection of food allergy and EoE.

Eosinophilic esophagitis and IgE-mediated food allergy are both food-triggered diseases that are increasing in prevalence. They share many clinical links, including significant comorbidity and similar food triggers, and as atopic diseases, they likely share upstream mechanisms related to barrier function and signals leading to TH2 skewing. In this review, we focus on links between eosinophilic esophagitis and IgE-mediated food allergy with an emphasis on what insights may be derived from overlapping food triggers and immune phenotypes. Through further investigation of these connections, we may be able to better understand not only IgE-mediated food allergy and eosinophilic esophagitis but also general atopic response to food proteins and evolution of allergic response to food.

TCF1-LEF1 co-expression identifies a multipotent progenitor cell (TH2-MPP) across human allergic diseases.

Repetitive exposure to antigen in chronic infection and cancer drives T cell exhaustion, limiting adaptive immunity. In contrast, aberrant, sustained T cell responses can persist over decades in human allergic disease. To understand these divergent outcomes, we employed bioinformatic, immunophenotyping and functional approaches with human diseased tissues, identifying an abundant population of type 2 helper T (TH2) cells with co-expression of TCF7 and LEF1, and features of chronic activation. These cells, which we termed TH2-multipotent progenitors (TH2-MPP) could self-renew and differentiate into cytokine-producing effector cells, regulatory T (Treg) cells and follicular helper T (TFH) cells. Single-cell T-cell-receptor lineage tracing confirmed lineage relationships between TH2-MPP, TH2 effectors, Treg cells and TFH cells. TH2-MPP persisted despite in vivo IL-4 receptor blockade, while thymic stromal lymphopoietin (TSLP) drove selective expansion of progenitor cells and rendered them insensitive to glucocorticoid-induced apoptosis in vitro. Together, our data identify TH2-MPP as an aberrant T cell population with the potential to sustain type 2 inflammation and support the paradigm that chronic T cell responses can be coordinated over time by progenitor cells.

Varying Doses of Epicutaneous Immunotherapy With Viaskin Milk vs Placebo in Children With Cow's Milk Allergy: A Randomized Clinical Trial.

Importance: No approved treatment exists for allergen-specific immunoglobulin E (IgE)-mediated cow's milk allergy (CMA), a common childhood food allergy. Objective: To assess dose, efficacy, and safety of epicutaneous immunotherapy with Viaskin milk in children with IgE-mediated CMA. Design, Setting, and Participants: A phase 1/2, 2-part, randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled dose-ranging clinical trial in children aged 2 to 17 years with IgE-mediated CMA was conducted between November 2014 through December 2017. It took place at 17 trial sites in the US and Canada. Current CMA was confirmed by double-blind, placebo-controlled food challenge at study entry. Part A assessed the short-term safety of 150 µg, 300 µg, or 500 µg of Viaskin milk; part B evaluated the efficacy and safety of the 3 doses vs placebo over 12 months of treatment. Of the 308 screened participants with physician-diagnosed CMA, 198 met eligibility criteria (including an eliciting dose 300 mg or less) and were randomized. Intervention: Safety of Viaskin milk (150-µg, 300-µg, or 500-µg doses) was evaluated over a 3-week period (part A). In part B, 180 additional participants were randomized to receive Viaskin milk at doses of 150 µg, 300 µg, or 500 µg or placebo (1:1:1:1) for 12 months. Main Outcomes and Measures: The primary outcome was the proportion of treatment responders, defined as a 10-fold or more increase in the cumulative reactive dose of cow's milk protein (reaching at least 144 mg) or a cumulative reactive dose of cow's milk protein at 1444 mg or more at the month 12 double-blind, placebo-controlled food challenge. Results: A total of 95.5% of the randomized participants (mean [SD] age, 8 [4.17] years; 124 of 198 were male [62.6%]) completed treatment. The highest response rate was observed in participants who received Viaskin milk at the 300-µg dose with 24 of 49 responders (49.0%) overall vs 16 of 53 responders (30.2%) in the placebo group (odds ratio, 2.19; 95% CI, 0.91-5.41; P = .09), highest in the 2 to 11 years age group (22 of 38 [57.9%] vs 13 of 40 [32.5%]; P = .04). Most treatment-emergent adverse events were mild or moderate application-site reactions. One participant in the 500-µg Viaskin milk dose group experienced treatment-related anaphylaxis. Conclusions and Relevance: In this randomized clinical trial, 12 months of daily epicutaneous immunotherapy with a dose of Viaskin milk at 300 µg was associated with a statistically significant treatment response in 2- to 11-year-old children with IgE-mediated CMA. Treatment-related anaphylaxis and treatment-related discontinuation rates were low. Further research is needed to explore Viaskin milk as a viable treatment option for children with IgE-mediated CMA. Trial Registration: ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier: NCT02223182.

Omalizumab for the Treatment of Multiple Food Allergies.

BACKGROUND: Food allergies are common and are associated with substantial morbidity; the only approved treatment is oral immunotherapy for peanut allergy. METHODS: In this trial, we assessed whether omalizumab, a monoclonal anti-IgE antibody, would be effective and safe as monotherapy in patients with multiple food allergies. Persons 1 to 55 years of age who were allergic to peanuts and at least two other trial-specified foods (cashew, milk, egg, walnut, wheat, and hazelnut) were screened. Inclusion required a reaction to a food challenge of 100 mg or less of peanut protein and 300 mg or less of the two other foods. Participants were randomly assigned, in a 2:1 ratio, to receive omalizumab or placebo administered subcutaneously (with the dose based on weight and IgE levels) every 2 to 4 weeks for 16 to 20 weeks, after which the challenges were repeated. The primary end point was ingestion of peanut protein in a single dose of 600 mg or more without dose-limiting symptoms. The three key secondary end points were the consumption of cashew, of milk, and of egg in single doses of at least 1000 mg each without dose-limiting symptoms. The first 60 participants (59 of whom were children or adolescents) who completed this first stage were enrolled in a 24-week open-label extension. RESULTS: Of the 462 persons who were screened, 180 underwent randomization. The analysis population consisted of the 177 children and adolescents (1 to 17 years of age). A total of 79 of the 118 participants (67%) receiving omalizumab met the primary end-point criteria, as compared with 4 of the 59 participants (7%) receiving placebo (P<0.001). Results for the key secondary end points were consistent with those of the primary end point (cashew, 41% vs. 3%; milk, 66% vs. 10%; egg, 67% vs. 0%; P<0.001 for all comparisons). Safety end points did not differ between the groups, aside from more injection-site reactions in the omalizumab group. CONCLUSIONS: In persons as young as 1 year of age with multiple food allergies, omalizumab treatment for 16 weeks was superior to placebo in increasing the reaction threshold for peanut and other common food allergens. (Funded by the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases and others; ClinicalTrials.gov number, NCT03881696.).

Interferon-γ signaling in eosinophilic esophagitis has implications for epithelial barrier function and programmed cell death.

Objective: Eosinophilic esophagitis (EoE) is a chronic esophageal inflammatory disorder characterized by eosinophil-rich mucosal inflammation and tissue remodeling. Transcriptional profiling of esophageal biopsies has previously revealed upregulation of type I and II interferon (IFN) response genes. We aim to unravel interactions between immune and epithelial cells and examine functional significance in esophageal epithelial cells. Design: We investigated epithelial gene expression from EoE patients using single-cell RNA sequencing and a confirmatory bulk RNA-sequencing experiment of isolated epithelial cells. The functional impact of interferon signaling on epithelial cells was investigated using in vitro organoid models. Results: We observe upregulation of interferon response signature genes (ISGs) in the esophageal epithelium during active EoE compared to other cell types, single-cell data, and pathway analyses, identified upregulation in ISGs in epithelial cells isolated from EoE patients. Using an esophageal organoid and air-liquid interface models, we demonstrate that IFN-γ stimulation triggered disruption of esophageal epithelial differentiation, barrier integrity, and induced apoptosis via caspase upregulation. We show that an increase in cleaved caspase-3 is seen in EoE tissue and identify interferon gamma (IFNG) expression predominantly in a cluster of majority-CD8+ T cells with high expression of CD69 and FOS. Conclusion: These findings offer insight into the interplay between immune and epithelial cells in EoE. Our data illustrate the relevance of several IFN-γ-mediated mechanisms on epithelial function in the esophagus, which have the potential to impact epithelial function during inflammatory conditions.

Humoral profiles of toddlers and young children following SARS-CoV-2 mRNA vaccination.

Although young children generally experience mild symptoms following infection with SARS-CoV-2, severe acute and long-term complications can occur. SARS-CoV-2 mRNA vaccines elicit robust immunoglobulin profiles in children ages 5 years and older, and in adults, corresponding with substantial protection against hospitalizations and severe disease. Whether similar immune responses and humoral protection can be observed in vaccinated infants and young children, who have a developing and vulnerable immune system, remains poorly understood. To study the impact of mRNA vaccination on the humoral immunity of infant, we use a system serology approach to comprehensively profile antibody responses in a cohort of children ages 6 months to 5 years who were vaccinated with the mRNA-1273 COVID-19 vaccine (25 µg). Responses are compared with vaccinated adults (100 µg), in addition to naturally infected toddlers and young children. Despite their lower vaccine dose, vaccinated toddlers elicit a functional antibody response as strong as adults, with higher antibody-dependent phagocytosis compared to adults, without report of side effects. Moreover, mRNA vaccination is associated with a higher IgG3-dependent humoral profile against SARS-CoV-2 compared to natural infection, supporting that mRNA vaccination is effective at eliciting a robust antibody response in toddlers and young children.

Utility of food allergy thresholds.

Food allergy is a prevalent disease worldwide that is a significant quality-of-life burden, and accidental exposures to food allergens may elicit severe, life-threatening reactions such as anaphylaxis. The threshold level, or the dose that triggers an allergic reaction determined by oral food challenges, varies considerably among individuals suffering from food allergies. Moreover, IgE concentration, diversity, or function can only partially explain this variation in threshold; pathogenic effector TH2 cells have also been found to contribute to the eliciting dose. Though very sensitive to cofactors such as physical activity/stress, the threshold is a stable and reproducible feature of an individual's allergy over periods of many months, made clear in the past several years from treatment studies in which repeated threshold determination has been used as a treatment outcome; however, there also seem to be age-related changes at a population level. More routine determination of food allergy thresholds may help patients stratify risk to improve the management of their food allergy. Precautionary allergen labeling, such as "may contain" labels, often causes confusion since they are inconsistent and regularly contain little to trace allergen residues; thus, food products with such labeling may be unnecessarily avoided. Population-based eliciting dose levels have been determined in the literature; patients at lower risk with higher thresholds may be more confident with introducing foods with precautionary allergen labels. Understanding a patient's threshold level could aid in shared decision-making to determine the most suitable treatment options for patients, including the starting dose for oral immunotherapy and/or the use of biologics.

Antigen-specific T cell responses in SARS-CoV-2 mRNA-vaccinated children.

SARS-CoV-2 mRNA vaccines elicit humoral responses in children that are comparable to those in adults. However, early-life T cell responses are distinct from adult ones, and questions remain about the nature and kinetics of mRNA vaccine-induced T cell responses in children. We report that Pfizer BNT162b2 mRNA vaccination elicits a significant antigen-specific CD4+ T cell response in the ≥12-year-old cohort. This response is weaker in magnitude in the 5- to 11-year-old cohort and is not improved by a higher vaccine dose (Moderna mRNA1273, 100 µg), suggesting distinct developmental programming that may underscore early-life T cell immunity. Increased effector phenotypes of antigen-specific T cells in younger children correspond with elevated anti-receptor binding domain antibody levels, albeit at the cost of memory generation. These studies highlight aspects of age-specific adaptive immune responses and the need for careful consideration of priming conditions including vaccine dose and adjuvant in the pediatric population.

Efficacy and safety of peanut epicutaneous immunotherapy in patients with atopic comorbidities.

Background: Co-occurring atopic conditions are common in children with peanut allergy. As such, it is important to examine the safety and efficacy of epicutaneous immunotherapy with Viaskin Peanut 250 µg patch (VP250) in peanut-allergic children with these conditions. Objective: We sought to compare efficacy and safety of VP250 versus placebo in peanut-allergic children with/without ongoing atopic conditions at baseline, including asthma, atopic dermatitis/eczema, or concomitant food allergy. Methods: A subgroup analysis of peanut-allergic children aged 4 to 11 years enrolled in PEPITES (12 months) and REALISE (6 months) randomized, placebo-controlled, phase 3 trials was conducted. The efficacy outcome measure was the difference in prespecified responder rate between placebo and VP250 groups at month 12 based on eliciting dose of peanut protein using double-blind, placebo-controlled food challenge in PEPITES. Safety profiles were evaluated by baseline concomitant disease subgroup in all randomized subjects who received 1 or more dose of the study drug in PEPITES and REALISE pooled data. Results: Responder rates were significantly (P < .05, all comparisons) greater with VP250 compared with placebo treatment regardless of whether subjects had other atopic conditions. Safety and tolerability profiles were generally similar across subgroups, with no new safety concerns detected. A trend for both higher responder rates and rates of local reactions was observed in subjects with baseline atopic dermatitis versus those without. In subjects with concomitant food allergy at baseline, higher rates of treatment-emergent adverse events, but not study discontinuations or overall rates of anaphylaxis, were observed. Conclusions: The results support the safety and efficacy of VP250 for treating peanut-allergic children with or without concomitant atopic conditions.

The SunBEAm birth cohort: Protocol design.

Background: Food allergy (FA) and atopic dermatitis (AD) are common conditions that often present in the first year of life. Identification of underlying mechanisms and environmental determinants of FA and AD is essential to develop and implement effective prevention and treatment strategies. Objectives: We sought to describe the design of the Systems Biology of Early Atopy (SunBEAm) birth cohort. Methods: Funded by the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID) and administered through the Consortium for Food Allergy Research (CoFAR), SunBEAm is a US population-based, multicenter birth cohort that enrolls pregnant mothers, fathers, and their newborns and follows them to 3 years. Questionnaire and biosampling strategies were developed to apply a systems biology approach to identify environmental, immunologic, and multiomic determinants of AD, FA, and other allergic outcomes. Results: Enrollment is currently underway. On the basis of an estimated FA prevalence of 6%, the enrollment goal is 2500 infants. AD is defined on the basis of questionnaire and assessment, and FA is defined by an algorithm combining history and testing. Although any FA will be recorded, we focus on the diagnosis of egg, milk, and peanut at 5 months, adding wheat, soy, cashew, hazelnut, walnut, codfish, shrimp, and sesame starting at 12 months. Sampling includes blood, hair, stool, dust, water, tape strips, skin swabs, nasal secretions, nasal swabs, saliva, urine, functional aspects of the skin, and maternal breast milk and vaginal swabs. Conclusions: The SunBEAm birth cohort will provide a rich repository of data and specimens to interrogate mechanisms and determinants of early allergic outcomes, with an emphasis on FA, AD, and systems biology.

Breakthroughs in understanding and treating eosinophilic gastrointestinal diseases presented at the CEGIR/TIGERs Symposium at the 2022 American Academy of Allergy, Asthma & Immunology Meeting.

The Consortium of Eosinophilic Gastrointestinal Diseases and The International Gastrointestinal Eosinophil Researchers organized a day-long symposium at the 2022 Annual Meeting of the American Academy of Allergy, Asthma & Immunology. The symposium featured a review of recent discoveries in the basic biology and pathogenesis of eosinophilic gastrointestinal diseases (EGIDs) in addition to advances in our understanding of the clinical features of EGIDs. Diagnostic and management approaches were reviewed and debated, and clinical trials of emerging therapies were highlighted. Herein, we briefly summarize the breakthrough discoveries in EGIDs.

Factors influencing age of common allergen introduction in early childhood.

Objectives: We evaluated factors influencing the timing of allergen introduction in the U.S., including updated peanut introduction guidelines. Study design: The Gastrointestinal Microbiome and Allergic Proctocolitis (GMAP) study is a prospective observational cohort in suburban Massachusetts. Infants' caregivers enrolled between 2014 and 2017, and they reported when they introduced common allergens to their child. Multivariable linear and survival regression analyses were used to examine factors influencing time of introduction of allergens. Results: By 9 months, children old enough to be potentially affected by NIAID's 2017 peanut introduction guidelines were more often introduced to peanut than children enrolled well before guidelines publication [54% vs. 42%, OR: 1.63, CI: (1.03, 2.57), P = 0.03]. At any given time, Black children were 73% [HR: 0.27, CI: (0.11, 0.69), P = 0.006] less likely to be introduced to peanut as early as White children. Asian children were, respectively, 36% [HR: 0.64, CI: (0.47, 0.86), P = 0.003] and 26% [HR: 0.74, CI: (0.55, 0.97), P = 0.03] less likely to be introduced to peanut and egg as early as White children. A first child was 27% [HR: 1.27, CI: (1.04, 1.56), P = 0.02] more likely to have been introduced to peanut earlier than a non-first child. There was no association between age of introduction and sex, gestational age, family history of food allergy, or other allergic comorbidities. Conclusion: Updated introduction guidelines, race, and birth order all influenced earlier introduction of peanut. Further studies to evaluate current practices for allergen introduction with a focus on potential disparities are needed.

Longitudinal assessment of early growth in children with IgE- and non-IgE-mediated food allergy in a healthy infant cohort.

BACKGROUND: There are conflicting associations reported between food allergies (FAs) and poor growth, with some indication that children with multiple FAs are at highest risk. OBJECTIVE: We analyzed longitudinal weight-for-length (WFL) trajectories from our healthy cohort to evaluate growth in children with IgE-mediated FAs and food protein-induced allergic proctocolitis (FPIAP), a non-IgE-mediated FA. METHODS: Our observational cohort of 903 healthy newborn infants was prospectively enrolled to evaluate the development of FAs. Longitudinal mixed effects modeling was used to compare differences in WFL among children with IgE-FA and FPIAP, compared with unaffected children, through age 2. RESULTS: Among the 804 participants who met inclusion criteria, FPIAP cases had significantly lower WFL than unaffected controls during active disease, which resolved by 1 year of age. In contrast, children with IgE-FA had significantly lower WFL than unaffected controls after 1 year. We also found that children with IgE-FA to cow's milk had significantly lower WFL over the first 2 years of age. Children with multiple IgE-FAs had markedly lower WFL over the first 2 years of age. CONCLUSION: Children with FPIAP have impaired growth during active disease in the first year of age which resolves, whereas children with IgE-FA, particularly those with multiple IgE-FA, have impaired growth more prominently after the first year of age. It may be appropriate to focus nutritional assessment and interventions accordingly during these higher risk periods in these patient populations.

Retail Food Equivalents for Post-Oral Immunotherapy Dosing in the Omalizumab as Monotherapy and as Adjunct Therapy to Multi-Allergen Oral Immunotherapy in Food-Allergic Children and Adults (OUtMATCH) Clinical Trial.

BACKGROUND: Patients with food allergy may be advised to introduce specific foods into their diets, both to increase tolerance gradually and as next steps after completing oral immunotherapy or other therapeutic interventions. However, the safe use of retail foods depends on the ability to establish the specific allergen protein content of these foods. OBJECTIVE: To develop a systematic approach to estimate the protein content of peanut, milk, egg, wheat, cashew, hazelnut, and walnut in a variety of retail food equivalents for each allergen and associated patient education materials. METHOD: We created an algorithm that used a multistep process with information from product food labels, nutrient databases, independent weighing and measuring of foods, and information provided by manufacturers, including certificates of analysis, and e-mail communication to estimate the allergen protein content of multiple retail foods for each of seven allergens. Once a variety of retail food equivalents for each allergen and allergen serving size was determined, we developed participant education handouts, which were reviewed by study teams at 10 food allergy centers, the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, and the Consortium for Food Allergy Research coordinating center. After 1 year of use, multiple queries were addressed and the retail food equivalents and educational materials were reviewed and edited. RESULTS: We identified a variety of retail food equivalents for seven allergens at six serving sizes, and created 48 unique patient education materials. CONCLUSION: Our results provide extensive guidance on a variety of retail equivalents for seven foods, and a method to estimate retail food protein equivalents systematically with ongoing reassessment.

Humoral profiles of toddlers and young children following SARS-CoV-2 mRNA vaccination.

Although young children generally experience mild symptoms following infection with SARS-CoV-2, severe acute and long-term complications can occur. SARS-CoV-2 mRNA vaccines elicit robust immunoglobulin profiles in children ages 5 years and older, and in adults, corresponding with substantial protection against hospitalizations and severe disease. Whether similar immune responses and humoral protection can be observed in vaccinated infants and young children, who have a developing and vulnerable immune system, remains poorly understood. To study the impact of mRNA vaccination on the humoral immunity of infant, we used a system serology approach to comprehensively profile antibody responses in a cohort of children ages 6 months to 5 years who were vaccinated with the mRNA-1273 COVID-19 vaccine (25 µg). Responses were compared with vaccinated adults (100 µg), in addition to naturally infected toddlers and young children. Despite their lower vaccine dose, vaccinated toddlers elicited a stronger functional antibody response than adults, including against variant of concerns (VOCs), without report of side effects. Moreover, mRNA vaccination was associated with a higher IgG3-dependent humoral profile against SARS-CoV-2 compared to natural infection, supporting that mRNA vaccination is effective at eliciting a robust antibody response in toddlers and young children.