Animal models of food allergy.

PURPOSE OF REVIEW: The focus of this review will be on recent animal models of food allergy. Animal models are being used to investigate underlying mechanisms of IgE-mediated disease and for prophylactic/intervention therapies to treat allergic disease.

RECENT FINDINGS: Considerable advances have been made in the dosage and use of sensitization routes with and without adjuvant and determinations of the pathophysiology of food allergy in murine, dog and swine food allergy models. Continued research on the neuroendocrine and novel immunoregulatory peptides is also providing new insight into inflammatory regulation and immunity. With the advent of genetically modified food crops, animal models are becoming a central theme for prediction/assessment of allergenicity for novel proteins based upon known food allergens. Therapeutic strategies involving cytokine and allergen, DNA immunizations and the use of probiotics are receiving new interest.

SUMMARY: Although murine models still predominate the literature with respect to animal models of food allergy, the atopic dog and neonatal swine model are contributing knowledge with respect to symptoms more closely related to human allergic responses. Continuing investigations into the mechanisms of IgE-mediated food allergy and therapeutic strategies are providing new insights into prevention and intervention therapies for food allergy.