(ORDO NEWS) — Micellar aggregates with butyrate, which is produced by bacteria in the healthy gut microbiome, effectively fight food allergies.
This was shown by scientists at the University of Chicago, who will present the results of the study at the autumn conference of the American Chemical Society. Briefly about the scientific work is described in a press release on Medical Xpress.
Butyrate is known to promote the growth of beneficial bacteria and maintain a healthy intestinal mucosa.
When the microbiome is disrupted, when butyrate-producing bacteria die, fragments of partially digested food can seep through the intestinal wall into the bloodstream and trigger an immune response, which in turn can lead to allergies.
Scientists are developing various methods for introducing beneficial microorganisms into the intestines, for example, through fecal transplantation or orally.
However, clinical trials failed, so the researchers thought about other ways to deliver butyrate to the human body.
Supplementation is also not the best solution, as butyrate smells like dog feces and rancid oil and is broken down in the gastrointestinal tract before it can reach its destination in the lower intestines.
The new butyrate delivery system is polymers of butanoyloxyethyl methacrylamide with methacrylic acid having a butyrate group as a side chain.
The polymers formed aggregates – polymer micelles containing butyrate groups in their core, which masks an unpleasant odor.
The micelles were introduced into the digestive system of mice that lacked healthy gut bacteria or had impaired mucosal function.
Digestive juices released butyrate in the lower intestines, and the remaining polymers were eliminated in the faeces.
The treatment restored the protective gut barrier and microbiome by boosting the production of peptides that kill harmful bacteria. Their place was taken by beneficial bacteria that produce butyrate.
The introduction of micelles into rodents with allergies eliminated a life-threatening anaphylactic reaction to peanuts.
Since this type of therapy is not antigen specific, it can be used to treat a wide range of allergies. In the future, scientists plan to conduct tests with larger animals and humans.
If they are successful and the FDA approves oral treatment, micelles can be sold in small packages that can be stirred in a glass of water. An injection option is also being considered.
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