UT South-West medical center new research allows to suppose that allergic reactions to animals dandruff, dust mites and mildew may be an obstacle for people experiencing asthma in creating normal immune response to such respiratory infections as influenza.

Dr. Michelle Gill a pediatrics and inner diseases chair docent and leading research author says: «Our research supposes that the better your asthma is being monitored the more is the more chances you will have adequate immune response to the virus. When a person experiencing asthma contact allergen and respiratory virus the allergen may virtually impede the immune response to the virus. This termination of antiviral response may contribute to asthma exacerbation, that is commonly being associated with respiratory viral infection».

Fifty-six person between 3 and 35 years of age took part in the research. Twenty-six participants experienced allergic asthma, thirty was a control group. Most part of the participants were afro-Americans, and the average age in both groups was 15 years.

The group of asthma diseased all patients had the diagnosis was approved by the doctor and all of them had positive skin test to at least on allergen.

Initially researchers defined immune cells called dendrite ones. These cells appears in the blood and tissues (like skin, mucosa) that contact with environment. When they meet respiratory viruses for instance flu virus then dendrite cells commonly produce proteins that help the body to mobilize immune system and overcome the viral infection.

However the contact with allergens considerably affects the ability of the dendrite cells to produce antiviral proteins.

Researchers believe that the suppression of the immune response of dendrite cells by allergic reactions is connected with the increased IgE level in people experiencing asthma.

This research probably will help to explain why asthmatics being sensitive to allergens within rooms quite often experience exacerbations of the asthma at the time they got respiratory viral infection.