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Allergy symptoms are most frequently caused by the activation of mast cells to release histamines and other substances responsible for inflammatory allergic responses.
More than 50 million Americans have allergic diseases, and over half of all citizens test positive to at least one of the ten most common allergens.
In terms of health care economics, allergies are responsible for more than $18 billion every year.
Recent deomstrations by a combined research group at VCU (Virginia Commonwealth University) and Luna Innovations Inc. show that the C60 buckyball (fullerene) is effective in turning off allergic responses and preventing allergies altogether.
The buckyballs work to inhibit allergic responses by affecting immunoglobulin (IgE) receptors.
IgE receptor molecules are created naturally by the body in response to an allergy.
It is the attachment and interaction of the IgE receptors between mast cells which cause the mast cells to release inflammatory substances.
The buckyballs make their way inside the mast cells to prevent the IgE receptors from activating the host cells' release of its contents.
The fullerenes may also play a role in preventing more allergies from forming.
Since the buckyballs can prevent responses from IgE primed mast cells, they may also prevent IgE cells from attaching to the mast cells at the first response to an allergy.
Other benefits of the buckyball to human well-being include nuturalization of free radicals.
Free radicals are known to influence Parkinson's Disease as well Alzheimer’s disease.
Natural defenses to free radicals are antioxidants found in many healthy fruits and vegetables and even chocolate, but new findings show that the buckyball can bond to free radicals better than antioxidants.
Sources:
American Academy of Allergy, Asthma and Immunology (AAAAI)
National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases
Jeremy Fagan | JYI.org Volume 16 2007
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