Multiple allergic reactions traced to single protein

A single protein has been identified as the root of painful and dangerous allergic reactions to a range of medications and other substances. If a new drug can be found that targets the problematic protein, researchers say, it could help smooth treatment for patients with conditions ranging from prostate cancer to diabetes to HIV. The researchers are now working to find compounds that could safely block the culprit receptor in humans, known as MRGPRX2. Such a drug would not prevent true allergic reactions, which produce antibodies, but only the pseudo allergic reactions triggered by MRGPRX2. Still, it could improve the lives of many patients. Medications that trigger MRGPRX2 include cancer drugs cetrorelix, leuprolide and octreotide; HIV drug sermorelin; fluoroquinolone antibiotics; and neuromuscular blocking drugs used to paralyze muscles during surgeries. Research group is also looking into the possibility that MRGPRX2 could be behind immune conditions such as rosacea and psoriasis that don’t stem from medication use.