Re: Non IgE 매개 음식 알레르기 논문..

[문형철]

Immunotargets Ther. 2021; 10: 431–446.

Published online 2021 Dec 29. doi: 10.2147/ITT.S284821

PMCID: PMC8721028

PMID: 35004389

Pathophysiology of Non-IgE-Mediated Food Allergy

Shouling Zhang,1 Scott Sicherer,1 M Cecilia Berin,1 and Amanda Agyemang1

Author information Article notes Copyright and License information PMC Disclaimer

Go to:

Abstract

Non-IgE-mediated food allergies are a group of disorders characterized by subacute or chronic inflammatory processes in the gut. Unlike IgE mediated food allergies that may result in multi-organ system anaphylaxis, the non-IgE mediated food allergies primarily affect the gastrointestinal tract. This review outlines the clinical manifestations, epidemiology, pathophysiology, and management of non-IgE-mediated food allergies. An updated literature search of selected non-IgE-mediated food allergies was conducted for this review using PubMed database to the current year (2021). Reviewed disorders include food protein-induced enterocolitis syndrome (FPIES), food-protein enteropathy (FPE), food protein-induced allergic proctocolitis (FPIAP), and eosinophilic gastrointestinal disorders (EGIDs) such as eosinophilic esophagitis (EoE). While extensive gains have been made in understanding FPIES, FPIAP, FPE, and EoE, more information is needed on the pathophysiology of these food allergies. Similarities among them include involvement of innate immunity, T-lymphocyte processes, alteration of the intestinal lumen at the cellular level with the appearance of inflammatory cells and associated histologic changes, and specific cytokine profiles suggesting food-specific, T-cell, and immune-mediated responses. While FPIES and FPIAP typically resolve in early childhood, EGIDs typically do not. Emerging new therapies for EoE offer promise of additional treatment options. Further studies identifying the immunopathogenesis, associated biomarkers, and mechanisms of tolerance are needed to inform prevention, diagnosis and management.

비-IgE 매개 식품 알레르기는 장에서 

아급성 또는 만성 염증 과정을 특징으로 하는 

질환 그룹입니다. 

다기관계 아나필락시스를 유발할 수 있는 

IgE 매개 식품 알레르기와 달리, 

비-IgE 매개 식품 알레르기는 

주로 위장관에 영향을 미칩니다. 

이 리뷰에서는 

비-IgE 매개 식품 알레르기의 

임상 증상, 역학, 병태생리 및 관리에 대해 간략하게 설명합니다. 

이 검토를 위해 PubMed 데이터베이스를 사용하여 현재(2021년)까지의 비-IgE 매개 식품 알레르기에 대한 최신 문헌 검색을 수행했습니다. 

검토된 질환에는 

식품 단백질 유발 장염 증후군(FPIES), 

식품 단백질 장병증(FPE), 

식품 단백질 유발 알레르기성 직장염(FPIAP), 

호산구성 식도염(EoE)과 같은 

호산구성 위장 장애(EGID)가 포함됩니다. 

FPIES, FPIAP, FPE 및 EoE를 이해하는 데 많은 진전이 있었지만, 

이러한 식품 알레르기의 병태생리에 대한 

더 많은 정보가 필요합니다. 

이들 간의 유사점으로는 

선천성 면역, 

T 림프구 과정, 

염증 세포의 출현 및 관련 조직학적 변화와 함께 

세포 수준에서 장 내강의 변화, 음식 특이적, T 세포 및 면역 매개 반응을 시사하는 

특정 사이토카인 프로파일 등이 있습니다. 

FPIES와 FPIAP는 

일반적으로 유아기에 해결되지만, 

EGID는 일반적으로 해결되지 않습니다. 

EoE에 대한 새로운 치료법은 

추가적인 치료 옵션의 가능성을 제시합니다. 

예방, 진단 및 관리를 위해서는 

면역 병인, 관련 바이오마커, 내성 메커니즘을 규명하는 추가 연구가 필요합니다.

Keywords: food protein-induced enterocolitis syndrome, FPIES, food protein-induced enteropathy, FPE, food protein-induced allergic proctocolitis, FPIAP, eosinophilic gastrointestinal disorders, EGIDs, eosinophilic esophagitis, EoE, pathophysiology

Go to:

Introduction

Food allergies can be categorized by pathophysiology into IgE-mediated, non-IgE-mediated, or mixed IgE and non-IgE-mediated conditions. Non-IgE-mediated food allergies are characterized by subacute or chronic symptoms, whereas IgE-mediated food allergies are characterized by the rapid onset of symptoms following ingestion (eg, anaphylaxis). Symptoms of non-IgE-mediated food allergies are primarily localized to the gut but may also affect the skin or lungs.1,2 Mixed IgE and non-IgE-mediated food allergies include eosinophilic gastrointestinal disorders (EGIDs) such as eosinophilic esophagitis (EoE), and dermatologic conditions such as atopic dermatitis. In this review, we will discuss the clinical manifestations, epidemiology, pathophysiology, and management of non-IgE-mediated food allergies including food protein-induced enterocolitis syndrome (FPIES), food-protein enteropathy (FPE), and food protein-induced allergic proctocolitis (FPIAP). We will also briefly review non-IgE-mediated food allergies of eosinophilic origin, including eosinophilic esophagitis (EoE).

식품 알레르기는 

병리 생리학에 따라 

IgE 매개, 비-IgE 매개, 또는 IgE와 비-IgE 매개가 혼합된 상태로 분류할 수 있습니다. 

비 IgE 매개 식품 알레르기는 

아급성 또는 만성 증상이 특징인 반면, 

IgE 매개 식품 알레르기는 섭취 후 증상이 빠르게 시작되는 것이 특징입니다(예: 아나필락시스). 

비 IgE 매개 식품 알레르기의 증상은 

주로 장에 국한되지만 

피부나 폐에도 영향을 미칠 수 있습니다.1,2 

혼합 IgE 및 비 IgE 매개 식품 알레르기에는 

호산구성 식도염(EoE)과 같은 호산구성 위장 장애(EGID)와 

아토피 피부염 같은 피부과 질환이 포함됩니다. 

이 리뷰에서는 

식품 단백질 유발 장염 증후군(FPIES), 

식품 단백질 장병증(FPE), 식

품 단백질 유발 알레르기성 직장염(FPIAP)을 포함한 

비 IgE 매개 식품 알레르기의 임상 증상, 역학, 병태생리 및 관리에 대해 논의합니다. 

또한 호산구성 식도염(EoE)을 포함한 호산구 기원의 비 IgE 매개 식품 알레르기에 대해서도 간략히 살펴봅니다.

Go to:

Food Protein-Induced Enterocolitis (FPIES)

Food protein-induced enterocolitis syndrome (FPIES) is a non-IgE-mediated gastrointestinal food hypersensitivity that affects the entire gastrointestinal tract.1 In 1967, one of the first case descriptions of FPIES by Gryboski described 21 hospitalized patients diagnosed with gastrointestinal milk allergy that presented with symptoms of chronic diarrhea and hematochezia.3 Eight of these children underwent sigmoidoscopy and rectal biopsy which revealed colitis that normalized after milk elimination. Respiratory and cutaneous symptoms were absent, unlike in IgE-mediated food allergy, and milk-induced colitis was identified as a distinct entity.3 Nearly a decade later, Powell described additional findings of increased peripheral leukocytosis, and neutrophilia, as well as increased presence of inflammatory cells in stool, among infants following a positive response to milk and/or soy challenge.4,5 The term, food protein-induced enterocolitis, was coined by McDonald et al in 1982.6 Further recognition of the constellation of symptoms and laboratory features seen in cases led to a refined understanding of the disease as a clinical syndrome by Sicherer et al in 1998.7

식품 단백질 유발 장염 증후군(FPIES)은 

위장관 전체에 영향을 미치는 

비 IgE 매개 위장관 식품 과민증입니다.1 

1967년 Gryboski가 

FPIES에 대한 첫 사례 중 하나로 

만성 설사와 혈변 증상을 보이는 

위장관 우유 알레르기 진단을 받은 21명의 입원 환자를 설명했습니다.3 

이 중 8명의 어린이는 시그모이드경 검사 및 직장 생검 결과 우유 제거 후 정상화된 대장염으로 밝혀졌습니다. 

IgE 매개 식품 알레르기와 달리 호흡기 및 피부 증상은 없었으며 

우유 유발 대장염은 뚜렷한 실체로 확인되었습니다.3 

거의 10년 후, 파월은 

우유 및/또는 콩 챌린지에 양성 반응을 보인 유아에게서 

말초 백혈구 증가와 호중구 증가, 

대변 내 염증 세포의 존재 증가라는 추가 소견을 설명했습니다.4,5 

식품 단백질 유발 장염이라는 용어는 

1982년 맥도널드 등에 의해 만들어졌습니다.6 

사례에서 나타난 증상과 실험실 특징에 대한 추가 인식으로 

1998년 시처러 등에 의해 임상 증후군으로 이 질환에 대한 이해가 구체화되었습니다.7

Clinical Manifestations

FPIES typically presents in infancy as either an acute or chronic phenotype.8 Acute FPIES is characterized by repetitive, profuse, and protracted vomiting starting approximately 2 hours following ingestion of the culprit food and may include later onset of watery diarrhea. The reaction may lead to dehydration, pallor, lethargy, and/or hypovolemic shock. Laboratory abnormalities include an elevated white blood cell count with neutrophilia and bandemia, and possibly acidemia and methemoglobinemia. Symptoms usually resolve within 24 hours as long as the culprit food is not re-introduced. Chronic FPIES is characterized by intermittent, yet progressive vomiting, and watery diarrhea, leading to weight loss, failure to thrive (FTT), lethargy, dehydration and/or metabolic derangements.8 Chronic FPIES symptoms are insidious and triggered by repeated ingestion of a culprit food, often cow milk or soy-based formula, over several days to weeks.8 Diagnosis is clinical and based on history and symptom resolution following elimination of the suspected triggering food(s).8 Table 1 compares features of acute and chronic FPIES based on international guidelines.8

FPIES는 

일반적으로 유아기에 급성 또는 만성 표현형으로 나타납니다.8 

급성 FPIES는 원인 식품 섭취 후 

약 2시간부터 반복적이고 다량의 구토가 시작되며 

나중에 묽은 설사가 시작될 수 있습니다. 

이 반응은 탈수, 창백, 무기력 및/또는 저혈량성 쇼크로 이어질 수 있습니다. 

실험실 이상 징후로는 백혈구 수 증가와 호중구 감소증 및 반데미아, 산혈증 및 메트헤모글로빈 혈증이 나타날 수 있습니다. 증상은 원인 식품을 다시 섭취하지 않는 한 보통 24시간 이내에 해결됩니다. 

만성 FPIES는 

간헐적이지만 점진적인 구토와 묽은 설사가 특징이며, 

체중 감소, 성장부진(FTT), 무기력, 탈수 및/또는 대사 장애로 이어집니다.8 

만성 FPIES 증상은 교묘하며

 원인 식품(주로 우유 또는 콩으로 만든 분유)을 수일에서 수주에 걸쳐 반복 섭취할 때 유발됩니다.8 

진단은 임상적이며 의심되는 유발 식품을 제거한 후 

병력 및 증상 해결을 기반으로 합니다.8 

표 1은 국제 가이드라인에 따라 급성 및 만성 FPIES의 특징을 비교한 것입니다.8

Table 1

Acute vs Chronic FPIES

Acute FPIESChronic FPIES

Age of onset	2–7 months of age	2–7 months of age
Symptom onset	Follows intermittent food exposures and includes emesis (within 1–4 hours), diarrhea (within 24 hours), lethargy, and pallor	Follows daily food ingestion and includes emesis (within 1–4 hours), diarrhea (within 24 hours, usually 5–10 hours, and may be chronic), poor weight gain/FTT
Clinical features	Vomiting, pallor, lethargy without skin or respiratory symptoms. May also include watery or bloody diarrhea, hypotension, abdominal distention, hypothermia	Intermittent but progressive vomiting and diarrhea, dehydration, metabolic acidosis, poor weight gain, FTT
Laboratory findings	Leukocytosis, neutrophilia, thrombocytosis, metabolic acidosis, methemoglobinemia	Leukocytosis, neutrophilia, thrombocytosis, metabolic acidosis, methemoglobinemia
Symptom resolution	Resolves within 24 hours after food elimination	Resolves within 3–10 days of food elimination and switching to hypoallergenic formula
Average age of resolution based on triggering food	Soy: 12 months (range 6 months to >22 years) Grains: 35 months Milk: 3 years Other solids: 42 months

Open in a separate window

Epidemiology

FPIES awareness is increasing worldwide, and preval‎ence rates vary geographically.8,9 The cumulative worldwide incidence of FPIES is estimated at 0.015% to 0.7%, and the preval‎ence of FPIES is estimated to be 0.51% in US infants.10 In a retrospective Korean study of 142 infants admitted for vomiting and/or diarrhea, 11.3% of infants were diagnosed with cow’s milk protein-induced enterocolitis.11 In an Israeli prospective birth cohort, Katz et al noted an incidence of 3 per 1000 newborns (0.34%) with cases attributed to cow’s milk.12 In Australia, an estimated incidence of 15.4 per 100,000 has been reported.13 Chronic FPIES is less preval‎ent but appears more frequently in Japan and Korea.11,14 In an international survey of caregiver-reported FPIES in 441 children, most affected children were female (50.7%), white (86.2%), and atopic (54.8%) suggesting that various demographic and atopic risk factors may exist.15 In the United States, grains (oat, rice), cow’s milk (CM) and soy are most often implicated.15 Avocado is the most commonly avoided fruit and associated with increased likelihood of banana avoidance.15 In Mediterranean countries, such as Spain and Italy, fish is a common trigger, whereas in Australia, rice was the most common trigger observed.13,16,17 Geographic differences in FPIES preval‎ence and trigger foods may exist due to differences in feeding behaviors (eg, breastfeeding vs cow milk/soy formula use rates), timing of solid food introduction, intestinal microbiome, and genetics, but more studies are needed to ascertain the reasons for these regional variations.18

The typical ages for FPIES presentation may also vary by food trigger. For CM/soy FPIES, existing international studies report a range of 0.28–7 months for symptom onset.3,4,7,8,12,14,17,19–26 Conversely, in solid-food FPIES, an older age of presentation is more common with a reported range of 4.5–12.1 months.7,8,17,19,23–26 In adult-onset FPIES, seafood is the most common trigger.27

FPIES에 대한 인식은 

전 세계적으로 증가하고 있으며, 

유병률은 지역적으로 다양합니다.8,9 

전 세계적으로 FPIES의 누적 발생률은 

0.015%~0.7%로 추정되며, 

미국 영아의 FPIES 유병률은 0.51%로 추정됩니다.10 

구토 및 설사로 입원한 영아 142명을 대상으로 한 국내 후향 연구에서 영아의 11.3%가 우유 단백질 유발 장염 진단을 받았습니다.11 이스라엘의 전향적 출생 코호트에서 카츠 등은 신생아 1000명당 3명(0.34%)이 우유로 인한 발병률을 기록했습니다.12 호주에서는 10만 명당 15.4명의 발병률이 보고되었습니다.13 만성 FPIES는 유병률이 낮지만 일본과 한국에서 더 자주 나타납니다.11,14 보호자가 보고한 441명의 어린이를 대상으로 한 국제 조사에서 대부분의 피해 어린이는 여성(50.7%), 백인(86.2%), 아토피(54.8%)로 다양한 인구학적 및 아토피 위험 요소가 존재할 수 있음을 시사합니다.15 미국에서는 곡물(귀리, 쌀), 우유(CM) 및 대두가 가장 자주 관련됩니다.15 아보카도는 가장 일반적으로 피하는 과일이며 바나나 기피 가능성 증가와 관련이 있습니다.15 스페인과 이탈리아 등 지중해 국가에서는 생선이 흔한 유발 식품인 반면, 호주에서는 쌀이 가장 흔한 유발 식품으로 관찰되었습니다.13,16,17 수유 행동(예: 모유 수유 대 우유/콩 분유 사용률), 고형 식품 도입 시기, 장내 미생물군, 유전적 차이로 인해 FPIES 유병률과 유발 식품의 지역적 차이가 있을 수 있지만 이러한 이유에 대해 확인하려면 추가 연구가 필요합니다.18

FPIES가 나타나는 일반적인 연령은 음식 유발 요인에 따라 다를 수 있습니다. CM/대두 FPIES의 경우, 기존 국제 연구에 따르면 증상 발현 연령은 0.28-7개월로 보고되었습니다.3,4,7,8,12,14,17,19-26 반대로 고형 식품 FPIES에서는 4.5-12.1개월로 보고되어 더 오래된 연령이 더 흔합니다.7,8,17,19,23-26 성인 발병 FPIES에서는 해산물이 가장 흔한 유발 요인입니다.27

Pathophysiology

The pathogenesis of FPIES is poorly understood, but thought to be a combination of intestinal, innate, and cell-mediated pathways.8 FPIES appears to largely be a combination of innate and cellular immunity processes involving antigen-specific T cells and cytokines, leading to gut inflammation in the colon and ileum.3,28–34 This inflammation is believed to cause increased intestinal permeability and fluid shifts into the gastrointestinal lumen.35 In early studies, Chung et al demonstrated increased TNF-α expression‎ coupled with diminished TGF-β1 receptors in the intestinal epithelium by gut immunohistochemistry in FPIES patients, supporting initial thoughts that this cascade of inflammatory factors weakens the integrity of the intestinal epithelial barrier and allows antigen in to propagate an inflammatory response.22 Studies in subsequent years have highlighted the complexity of potential pathways underlying the inflammatory cascade of FPIES. A Japanese study elucidating serum cytokine participants in FPIES pathophysiology demonstrated interleukin (IL)-2, IL-5, and IL-8 were increased in all four positive FPIES oral challenges obtained from 6 studied patients with FPIES.36 IL-8 was again noted to be elevated in patients with cow’s milk induced FPIES reactions, along with tryptase, supporting roles for neutrophils and mast cells, respectively, in FPIES reactions.37

Innate immune activation in FPIES reactions has been implicated in the pathogenesis of FPIES. Broad activation of the innate immune system was confirmed via CyTOF analysis of whole blood of 14 patients with FPIES by Goswami et al.38 This study demonstrated dominant activation of monocytes in addition to neutrophils, eosinophils, and natural killer cells after positive challenges with trigger foods.38 Mehr et al used transcriptional profiling of 36 children with FPIES to identify several genes associated with granulocytes and innate signaling (IL-10, TREM1).39 In this study, matrix metalloproteinase 9, IL-B, and STAT3 were identified as key factors in positive FPIES challenge responses.39 A number of additional innate cytokines (TNF-alpha, oncostatin M, leukemia inhibitory factor, IL-10, and IL-6) were identified as elevated in serum during and after FPIES reactions.40

Many studies have supported the involvement of T lymphocytes mediating FPIES reactions.41,42 Global activation of T lymphocytes and their extravasation from the peripheral blood after positive FPIES challenges are demonstrated through significant loss of circulating T lymphocytes and associated CD69 upregulation of remaining lymphocytes.38 However, evidence for pathways for T cell specific immune responses and the subtype of effector cells and cytokine profiles mediating this activation have conflicted. An early, double-blind, placebo-controlled food challenge to rice in Italy revealed Th2 activation in the form of immediate increase in IL-4 expression‎ during a positive rice FPIES challenge.41 Broad investigation of antigen-specific lymphoproliferation and cytokine production profiles in patients with non-IgE-mediated gastrointestinal food allergies and patients with IgE-mediated allergy also found Th2 cytokines, such as IL-3, IL-5, and IL-13, were significantly produced in vitro by milk protein-stimulated, peripheral blood mononuclear cells from patients with non-IgE gastrointestinal food allergies.42 IgE or Th1 cytokines such as IFN-Y or IL-17 were not found to be significantly expressed in these same populations.42 Conversely, Adel-Patient et al found very weak expression‎ of inflammatory Th2 and Th17 cytokines after stimulation of peripheral blood mononuclear cells with cow’s milk protein in subjects with cow’s milk FPIES.43 Other studies also demonstrated weak Th2 responses that were not significantly different from control populations.44

A recent prospective study of children with FPIES undergoing supervised oral food challenges offers new insights to an IL-17 signaling pathway in acute FPIES reactions. Berin et al used proteomic and flow cytometric analysis to examine peripheral blood samples from children (11 reactors and 12 outgrown) at baseline, symptom onset, and 4 hours after symptom onset in children undergoing FPIES food challenges.45 Specifically, acute FPIES reactions were associated with activated IL-17 pathway signaling, demonstrating significant elevations in chemokine CCL20 and TH-17-related cytokines (IL-17A, IL-22, IL-17C, and CCL20).45 Sources of IL-17 in peripheral cells were confirmed as primarily CD4+ TH17 cells.45 In this study, the IL-17 pathway was identified as a key feature of acute FPIES from symptom onset until resolution, which was not previously described.45

Achievement of immune tolerance may also be, in part, mediated by T lymphocytes. Mori et al observed increased serum IL-10 expression‎ in a follow-up negative rice challenge, in an 8-month-old who reacted to rice 6 months prior, suggesting that IL-10 was associated with achieving tolerance.41 In addition, IL-10 serum levels have been demonstrated to increase in subjects after cow’s milk FPIES had resolved, further suggesting a role for IL-10 in food tolerance.37 Tregs have also been noted to be elevated during the course and or resolution of FPIES, suggesting roles for these cells in tolerance.41 T-lymphocyte processes overall appear central in our understanding of FPIES. Table 2 summarizes findings of cytokine profiles seen in FPIES.

FPIES의 발병 기전은 잘 알려져 있지 않지만 

장, 선천성 및 세포 매개 경로의 조합으로 생각됩니다.8 

FPIES는 

주로 항원 특이적 T 세포와 

사이토카인을 포함하는 

선천 및 세포 면역 과정의 조합으로 나타나 

결장과 회장의 장 염증을 유발합니다.3,28-34 

이 염증은 

장 투과성 증가와 

위장 내강으로의 체액 이동을 유발하는 것으로 여겨집니다.35 

초기 연구에서 Chung 등은 

FPIES 환자의 장 면역 조직 화학을 통해 장 상피에서 

TGF-β1 수용체 감소와 함께 

TNF-α 발현 증가를 입증하여 

이러한 염증 인자의 캐스케이드가 장 상피 장벽의 완전성을 약화시키고 

항원이 염증 반응을 전파 할 수 있다는 초기 생각을 뒷받침했습니다 .22 

후속 연구에서 FPIES의 염증 계단식 기저에있는 잠재적 경로의 복잡성을 강조했습니다. FPIES 병태생리에 혈청 사이토카인이 관여하는 것을 규명한 일본의 한 연구에서는 6명의 FPIES 환자에서 얻은 4가지 양성 FPIES 경구 챌린지 모두에서 인터루킨(IL)-2, IL-5, IL-8이 증가한 것으로 나타났습니다.36 IL-8은 우유로 유발된 FPIES 반응 환자에서 트립타제와 함께 다시 상승하는 것으로 나타났으며, 이는 각각 호중구와 비만 세포의 역할을 지원하는 FPIES 반응에서 중요한 역할을 합니다.37

FPIES 반응에서 선천성 면역 활성화는 FPIES의 발병 기전과 관련이 있습니다. 고스와미 등은 14명의 FPIES 환자 전혈에 대한 CyTOF 분석을 통해 선천 면역계의 광범위한 활성화를 확인했습니다.38 이 연구에서는 유발 식품에 양성 반응을 보인 후 호중구, 호산구, 자연살해세포 외에 단핵구가 우세하게 활성화되는 것을 입증했습니다.38 Mehr 등은 36명의 소아 FPIES 환자의 전사 프로파일링을 사용하여 과립구 및 선천성 신호(IL-10, TREM1)와 관련된 여러 유전자를 확인했습니다.39 이 연구에서 매트릭스 메탈로프로테아제 9, IL-B 및 STAT3가 양성 FPIES 챌린지 반응의 핵심 요인으로 확인되었습니다.39 다수의 추가 선천 사이토카인(TNF- 알파, 온코스타틴 M, 백혈병 억제 인자, IL-10 및 IL-6)이 FPIES 반응 중 및 후에 혈청에서 상승한 것으로 확인되었습니다.40

많은 연구에서 FPIES 반응을 매개하는 T 림프구의 관여를 뒷받침하고 있습니다.41,42 양성 FPIES 도전 후 T 림프구의 전 세계적인 활성화와 말초 혈액에서 이들의 혈관 외 유출은 순환하는 T 림프구의 상당한 손실과 남은 림프구의 CD69 상향 조절을 통해 입증되었습니다.38 그러나 T 세포 특이 면역 반응의 경로와 이러한 활성화를 매개하는 효과 세포의 아형 및 사이토카인 프로파일에 대한 증거는 상충되고 있습니다. 이탈리아에서 쌀에 대한 초기 이중맹검, 위약 대조 식품 챌린지에서는 쌀 FPIES 챌린지 양성 반응 시 IL-4 발현이 즉각적으로 증가하는 형태로 Th2 활성화가 확인되었습니다.41 비-IgE 매개 위장관 식품 알레르기 환자와 IgE 매개 알레르기 환자의 항원 특이적 림프 증식 및 사이토카인 생산 프로파일에 대한 광범위한 조사에서도 비-IgE 위장관 식품 알레르기 환자의 우유 단백질 자극 말초 혈액 단핵 세포에서 IL-3, IL-5, IL-13 같은 Th2 사이토카인이 시험관 내에서 유의하게 생성되는 것으로 나타났습니다.42 이러한 동일한 집단에서 IFN-Y 또는 IL-17과 같은 IgE 또는 Th1 사이토카인은 유의하게 발현되지 않는 것으로 밝혀졌습니다.42 반대로, 아델-환자 등은 우유 단백질로 말초 혈액 단핵 세포를 자극한 후 우유 FPIES 환자에서 염증성 Th2 및 Th17 사이토카인의 매우 약한 발현을 발견했습니다.43 다른 연구에서도 대조군 집단과 크게 다르지 않은 약한 Th2 반응이 나타났습니다.44

최근 경구 식품 섭취를 감독받는 FPIES 어린이를 대상으로 한 전향적 연구에서 급성 FPIES 반응의 IL-17 신호 경로에 대한 새로운 통찰력을 제시했습니다. 베린 등은 단백질체 및 유세포 분석법을 사용하여 FPIES 음식 과제를 받은 어린이(11명의 반응자 및 12명의 성장한 어린이)의 말초 혈액 샘플을 기준점, 증상 시작 시점 및 증상 시작 후 4시간 후에 검사했습니다.45 특히 급성 FPIES 반응은 활성화된 IL-17 경로 신호와 관련이 있었으며, 케모카인 CCL20 및 TH-17 관련 사이토카인(IL-17A, IL-22, IL-17C 및 CCL20)의 유의미한 상승을 보여주었습니다.45 말초 세포에서 IL-17의 공급원은 주로 CD4+ TH17 세포로 확인되었습니다.45 이 연구에서 IL-17 경로는 이전에 설명되지 않았던 증상 발병부터 해결까지 급성 FPIES의 핵심 특징으로 확인되었습니다.45

면역 관용의 달성도 부분적으로는 T 림프구에 의해 매개될 수 있습니다. 모리 등은 6개월 전에 쌀에 반응한 생후 8개월 된 피험자의 후속 쌀 음성 챌린지에서 혈청 IL-10 발현 증가를 관찰하여 IL-10이 내성 달성과 관련이 있음을 시사했습니다.41 또한 우유 FPIES가 해결된 후 피험자에서 IL-10 혈청 수준이 증가하는 것으로 입증되어 식품 내성에서 IL-10의 역할을 추가로 시사했습니다.37 또한, FPIES가 진행 중이거나 해결되는 동안 Tregs가 증가하여 내성에서 이러한 세포의 역할을 시사하는 것으로 나타났습니다.41 T 림프구 과정은 전반적으로 FPIES에 대한 이해에서 핵심적인 역할을 하는 것으로 보입니다. 표 2에는 FPIES에서 나타난 사이토카인 프로파일의 결과가 요약되어 있습니다.

Table 2

Inflammatory Responses Implicated in FPIES

StudyYearCountryPopulationElevated Cytokines

Berin C, Lozano-Ojalvo D, Agashe C et al45	2021	United States	23 children with history of FPIES (11 reactors, 12 outgrown) undergoing supervised FPIES OFCs	Increased IL-17 family cytokines (IL-17A, IL-22, IL-17C, and CCL20) in symptomatic OFCs. Increased IL-2 and increased inflammatory markers (IL-8, oncostatin M, leukemia inhibitory factor, TNF-α, IL-10, and IL-6). Increased mucosal damage marker regenerating family member 1 alpha (REG1A).
Kimura M, Ito Y, Shimomura M et al36	2017	Japan	6 OFCS in 4 patients with FPIES	IL-2, IL-5, and IL-8 were elevated in all 4 positive OFCs.
Morita H, Nomura I, Orihara K et al42	2013	Japan	65 patients with GI food allergies, 12 with IgE-mediated cow’s milk allergy (CMA) with non-gastrointestinal symptoms with milk ingestion, and 12 asymptomatic controls	Increased IL-3, IL-5, and IL-13 in peripheral blood mononuclear cells from those with GI food allergies
Mori F, Barni S, Cianferoni A et al41	2009	Italy	Double-blind placebo-controlled OFC to rice in an 8-month-old boy during an acute FPIES reaction and after FPIES resolution	Increased IL-4 (positive OFC) Increased IL-10 (negative OFC done 6 months after initial positive OFC)

Open in a separate window

Additional branches of the immune process have been speculated to be included in FPIES pathophysiology such as humoral immunity. The presence of specific IgE towards trigger foods is associated with persistent FPIES23 and up to 30% of individuals with FPIES also have low positive specific IgE levels.7,14,42 Atypical FPIES can also present with some degree of serum IgE positivity and IgE-mediated cutaneous reactions.10 Though associations between FPIES symptomatology and IgE presence are suggested, there have been no studies successfully describing a food-specific IgE-mediated response in FPIES. For instance, Adel-Patient et al did not detect IgE reactivity to 8 separate milk allergens or digested cow’s milk when comparing milk FPIES with IgE-mediated milk or peanut allergy.43

Studies suggesting involvement of other immunoglobulin isotypes are conflicting.10 Plasma cells producing IgA and IgG were noted in the intestinal mucosa in the earliest studies of subjects with cow’s milk malabsorption syndromes, along with increased IgA and IgM content of the stool and serum post-challenge with cow’s milk.46 Additionally, egg and soy induced FPIES reactions also demonstrated elevations in specific IgA and IgG post-challenge when compared to control subjects in a small study by McDonald et al.20 However, larger studies indicate no evidence for food-triggered antibody recognition.40 A comparison of individuals with challenge-proven milk FPIES and individuals with history of milk FPIES that had since resolved did not reveal significant differences in milk-specific IgG1, IgG, IgM, and IgA levels.44,47 There has even been suggestion of suppression of immunoglobulin responses, specifically IgG4 and IgA, when subjects with FPIES were challenged with their food triggers thus highlighting the lack of understanding of the role of humoral immunity in FPIES.47,48

Neuroimmune mechanisms are also suggested in the pathogenesis given the symptomatic improvement of vomiting, abdominal pain, and lethargy with ondansetron use in acute episodes of FPIES.49 However, this is also poorly understood. Rapid recovery of acute FPIES reactions in a case series of 5 consecutive patients undergoing oral food challenges at a pediatric allergy clinic was observed with ondansetron treatment, a selective serotonin 5-HT3 receptor antagonist.49

Existing imaging and biopsy studies have revealed additional insight to the gross pathology of FPIES. Initial rectal biopsies of children who underwent sigmoidoscopy with suspected FPIES identified colitis that normalized after a milk elimination diet.3 A review of 53 cases of children with allergic disorders of the GI tract, including 15 with allergic proctitis and 38 with allergic gastroenteritis, confirmed diffuse eosinophils in the lamina propria with focal infiltration of the epithelium by eosinophils on rectal mucosal biopsy.28 Proctosigmoidoscopy in four infants with suspected soy protein intolerance after soy formula challenge showed mucosal friability and loss of vascular pattern. Their rectal biopsies showed acute colitis with crypt abscesses, mucus depletion of rectal glands, and polymorphonuclear leukocytes within the lamina propria.29 Intestinal biopsies of 31 infants with cow’s milk protein intolerance confirmed mucosal damage with partial villous atrophy and blunting seen most often.30

Management

In acute management of FPIES reactions, the severity of presenting symptoms should be considered.8 For mild symptoms, oral rehydration, ondansetron (for ages 6 months and older), and close monitoring for 4–6 hours from onset of symptoms at home is suggested.8 For moderate or severe symptoms with greater than 3 episodes of emesis or lethargy, emergency care and/or hospitalization may be required.8 Aggressive fluid resuscitation in an emergency setting, a single dose of intravenous methylprednisolone, and ondansetron may be considered.8 In severe cases, close attention to electrolyte abnormalities such as acidemia, correction of methemoglobinemia, and intensive cardiorespiratory support may be indicated.8 Management of acute and chronic FPIES is also based on an elimination diet of the triggering food.8 Due to high milk and soy co-reactivity, transition to soy formula is not recommended in cases of FPIES to cow’s milk.8 Use of extensively hydrolyzed or amino-based formula may be considered in addition to breastfeeding.8 Guided introduction of low risk solids is recommended for long-term management, beginning with less allergenic foods (eg, berries, carrot, quinoa, lamb, and apple).8

Prognosis is favorable for FPIES. Most children outgrow FPIES by age 1–5 years, but timing varies by triggering food and patient. For example, CM-triggered FPIES tends to resolve by age 3–5 years, whereas rice FPIES typically resolves by age 5 in 50% of cases.1,8

Go to:

Food Protein-Induced Allergic Proctocolitis (FPIAP)

Clinical Manifestations

Food protein-induced allergic proctocolitis (FPIAP) is a non-IgE-mediated, self-limited, food allergy of the rectum and colon. Lake et al first described FPIAP in 1982 in six exclusively breastfed infants who developed inflammatory changes in the rectum in the first month of life.50 FPIAP typically starts in the first 6 months of life with blood-streaked and/or mucus-containing stools.1 Breastfed infants are often older at initial presentation and with less severe histologic findings. Infants appear well but may have colicky behavior with increased bowel movements. FTT is absent, which is a key difference from other non-IgE-mediated food allergies. Anemia secondary to stool blood loss may rarely occur, requiring iron supplementation.1

Epidemiology

Estimates of preval‎ence in infants with rectal bleeding range widely from 18% to 64%.51,52 A recent prospective study of newborn infants identified a cumulative incidence of 17% (n = 153) for FPIAP when diagnosed clinically by community pediatricians without confirm‎atory oral challenge.53 This study likely over-represented the preval‎ence by including infants with occult or chronic blood in the stool without confirm‎ing food as a trigger. Varying practices in screening and diagnosis of FPIAP may account for different rates. Risk factors for FPIAP include atopy, such as having a first-degree relative with food allergy), eczema, or household pets at birth.53 Infants fed both breast milk and formula during the first 4 months of life in this recent prospective study were 56% less likely than exclusively formula-fed infants, and 38% less likely than exclusively breastfed infants to develop FPIAP.53 IgE-mediated allergy is also strongly associated with FPIAP, with Martin et al observing that infants with FPIAP were almost twice as likely to develop IgE mediated allergy.54

Pathophysiology

FPIAP pathology is mostly limited to the rectosigmoid colon for unknown reasons, and like other non-IgE-mediated food allergies, is poorly understood. Similar to FPIES, inflammatory cytokine TNF-α is overexpressed, whereas TGF-β1 receptor activity and TGF-β ligand expression‎ are decreased in tissue and allergen-restimulated peripheral blood mononuclear cells in subjects with FPIAP.42,55 The hypothesized role for abnormal expression‎ of TNF-α and TGF-β is to weaken the epithelial barrier of intestinal mucosa and promote fluid shifts resulting in diarrhea and hematochezia.

Endoscopy and biopsy are rarely undertaken because FPIAP is a clinical diagnosis. When biopsied, gross findings of focal erythema with lymphoid nodular hyperplasia are present.56 Signature findings on biopsy include marked eosinophilic infiltration and degranulation of the rectosigmoid colon in close proximity to the lymphoid nodules.28,51,57 A prospective study of 35 infants with rectal bleeding and allergic colitis revealed 31 infants with marked eosinophilic infiltrate (with >20 eosinophils per high-power field) on histopathology.57 No correlation between tissue and peripheral eosinophilia has been noted in FPIAP.56

There are currently no reported biomarkers identified to support FPIAP diagnosis.53 Children with an FPIAP diagnosis had a two-fold risk of developing IgE-mediated food allergy, even when accounting for atopic dermatitis as a risk.54 A shared pathophysiology may explain this, or the possibility that dietary elimination was a risk factor, which underscores the need for more studies in this area and consideration to rechallenge to the presumed trigger after symptom resolution to confirm‎ the diagnosis.

Management

A maternal elimination diet of the triggering food in exclusively breastfed infants, or a trial of extensively hydrolyzed or amino acid-based cow’s milk formula in either breastfed or formula-fed infants, may be considered for the management of cow’s milk induced FPIAP.1 To establish a dietary trigger, a re-trial of the suspected food a few weeks after resolution of rectal bleeding is advised.58 Regarding maternal dietary restriction, some suggest waiting a month before starting dietary elimination, since bleeding may self-resolve, but individual approaches may vary.58,59

Prognosis is favorable, and cases usually resolve by 12 months of age.1 In fact, a recent US prospective study of FPIAP showed the median age of symptom resolution was potentially earlier, at 123 days.53 Infants are otherwise well-appearing without significant morbidity resulting from this self-limited condition.

Go to:

Food Protein-Induced Enteropathy (FPE)

Food protein-induced enteropathy (FPE) is a non-IgE-mediated food allergy affecting the small bowel. The diagnosis is rarely made nowadays. FPE was first described by Kuitunen et al in 1975 among 54 infants with malabsorption syndrome and cow’s milk intolerance from 1962 to 1971 in Finland. Infants presented with diarrhea, FTT, vomiting and 20% had eczema and recurrent respiratory infections that resolved around age 1. Labs showed malabsorption, raised serum IgA and CM precipitants, while biopsies revealed damaged jejunal mucosa.60 Unlike FPIES or FPIAP, histological confirmation of FPE requires biopsy.1

Clinical Manifestations

FPE presents with protracted, non-bloody, diarrhea in the first 9 months of life. Symptoms typically present within the first 2 months, and usually within weeks of CM introduction.1,2,8,31,32,60 Other food triggers include soy, wheat, and egg.2 Up to half of affected infants have FTT, abdominal distention, and/or malabsorption.1 Additional features include protein-losing enteropathy, hypoalbuminemia, and FTT.1 FPE is characterized by abnormal small intestinal mucosa, improved after dietary avoidance.2

Epidemiology

FPE is a rare condition. An overall decline in FPE has been noted over the last few decades.61 Peak incidence was noted in the 1960s in Finland, followed by a gradual disappearance of cases of severe jejunal damage caused by CM in the following three decades.1,61 Personal history of atopy is estimated to be 22% in FPE, whereas family history of atopy is unknown.1

Pathophysiology

Distinguishing features of biopsies in patients with FPE include specific damage to villous architecture of the small intestine mucosa, unlike the other non-IgE mediated gastrointestinal allergies mentioned in this review.62,63 Specific histological findings include villous atrophy, lymphonodular hyperplasia of the duodenum and colon, increased intraepithelial lymphocytes (>25/100 epithelial cells) and marked eosinophil infiltration and degranulation in the mucosa.1,34,61,64–66 Suggested cellular etiologies for the inflammation induced structural damage include the presence of food (milk) specific T lymphocytes in duodenal tissue which express Th2 cytokines upon stimulation with milk.67 Increased intestinal intraepithelial CD8+ T cells that are food-allergen specific are noted in FPE, similar to celiac’s disease, and thus likely also contribute to the malabsorption.1,61,68,69 Expression‎ of IFN-Y and IL-4 cytokines have also been identified in jejunal biopsy specimens.1,70 Overall, pathophysiology of FPE involves eosinophils, cow-milk specific T lymphocytes, and specific cytokine profiles.2,34,37,67

Management

Avoidance of the triggering food is recommended. Introduction of non triggering foods can occur without restriction, unlike FPIES which requires a more gradual approach of slow introduction of foods related to the trigger.44 Further management, including food introduction, has been discussed at length.8 Prognosis is favorable with resolution of symptoms usually reported by age 24–36 months.1

Go to:

Eosinophilic Gastrointestinal Disorders (EGIDs)

The eosinophilic gastrointestinal disorders (EGIDs) include eosinophilic esophagitis (EoE), eosinophilic gastritis (EG), eosinophilic gastroenteritis (EGE), eosinophilic enteritis, and eosinophilic colitis (EC). These disorders are characterized by chronic eosinophilic inflammation and although IgE mediated allergy is not necessarily identified, they are typically categorized as “mixed” IgE and non-IgE mediated because allergic sensitization is often observed. EoE, the most well-studied, will be primarily discussed here. Eosinophilic esophagitis (EoE) is a chronic, immune-mediated esophageal disease characterized by symptoms related to esophageal dysfunction and eosinophil-predominant inflammation on histology.71

Clinical Manifestations

Symptoms include abdominal pain, dysphagia, nausea, emesis, esophageal food impaction, gastroesophageal reflux symptoms, diarrhea, chest pain, and bloody stools.72 Symptoms vary by age, with nonspecific gastrointestinal symptoms and FTT more common in childhood, and esophageal symptoms like heartburn, chest pain, and dysphagia more preval‎ent in older children and adults.72 Other immunological disorders, like celiac disease, and psychosocial comorbidities, such as depression and anxiety, are also associated with EoE.72 Eosinophilic gastritis/gastroenteritis (EG/EGE) are inflammatory disorders characterized by with eosinophilic infiltration within in the GI tract beyond the esophagus. In EGE, symptoms of abdominal pain are more common.73 Diagnosis of EoE is based on marked eosinophilic infiltrates on esophageal biopsy with ≥15 eosinophils per high-power field (hpf).74 Eosinophilia is localized to specific tissues in the GI tract in EGIDs, and is typically independent of peripheral blood eosinophilia.73

Epidemiology

The preval‎ence of EoE is increasing in the United States and is estimated at 0.5–1 case/1000 persons.75 There is limited data on the preval‎ence of other EGIDs such as EG/EGE due to their rarity, however EGE in the United States is estimated to be 22–28 per 100,000.76 Conflicting reports suggest lower preval‎ences of 6.3/100,000 for EG, 8.4/100,000 for EGE, and 3.3/100,000 for eosinophilic colitis.77 Most existing studies of EoE take place in North America, and more information is needed on worldwide preval‎ence rates and diagnostic screening recommendations. A large multicenter US EoE study revealed a predominantly male (68.2%) and white (87.9%) EoE phenotype.72 The median age of EoE symptom onset was 5 years (range 1–12 years) and the median age of EoE diagnosis was 8 years (range 3–15 years).72 Food allergy (67.0%), allergic rhinitis (60.3%), atopic dermatitis (46.4%), and asthma (45.4%) were common comorbidities.72

Pathophysiology

The pathogenesis of EGIDs, as with other non-IgE-mediated food allergies discussed, is not fully understood. The pathogenesis of EoE, the EGID most often eval‎uated by allergists, is multifactorial, involving a combination of genetic, host, and environmental factors.78,79 EoE is characterized by the endoscopic findings of eosinophilic infiltration of the esophagus.71 Additional endoscopic findings may include fixed and transient esophageal rings, whitish exudates, longitudinal furrows, edema, esophageal narrowing, and esophageal lacerations.71

The impaired epithelial barrier of the esophagus is central to EoE pathogenesis.78 There are several genes that are specific to the esophageal epithelium in which perturbations in expression‎ are associated with EoE disease.78,80 Increased EoE susceptibility has been associated with pathogenic variants at gene loci of the esophageal-derived genes thymic stromal lymphopoietin (TSLP) encoded at gene locus 5q22, and calpain 14 protease (CAPN14) encoded at gene locus 2p23.74,78,81,82 Genes encoding for IL-1 family genes, serine peptidase inhibitors (SERPINs), serine protease inhibitors, Kazal-type-related inhibitors (SPINKs), and the calpain protease, CAPN14 part of the EoE transcriptome, serve as a collection of genes that are highly expressed in the esophagus, and when dysregulated, increase EoE risk.78,81,82 In particular, loss of SPINK7 function induces an epithelial barrier defect, proteolytic activity, and a proinflammatory Th2 cytokine response by epithelial cells of the esophagus, in individuals with EoE.78,83

Localized Th2 inflammation in the esophagus is also key in EoE, which includes the proinflammatory cytokine responses of IL-5 and IL-13. IL-5 traffics eosinophils to the esophagus, as identified in early mouse models, and in part promotes remodeling of the esophagus as noted by increased basal layer thickness and collagen accumulation in mice overexpressing IL-5.84,85 IL-13 is overexpressed in subjects with EoE and may serve as a downstream mediator of esophageal inflammation.74 T cell-mediated responses involving cytokines IL-5 and IL-13 are hypothesized to induce eotaxin 3, which then recruits eosinophils from the periphery into the tissue.86,87 Major degranulation of eosinophilic granules in the esophageal epithelia occurs upon arrival as evidenced by findings of increased major basic protein, eosinophil peroxidase, and cationic protein deposited in the tissue.78 Previous studies have also shown increased levels of IL-5, IL-13, IL-15, and plasma basic fibroblast growth factor in EoE.71,88–90

IL-13, in particular, also exacerbates the barrier disruption of the esophagus. IL-13 induces calpain 14, which as mentioned previously, is found specifically in the upper GI tract/esophageal epithelium.91,92 Calpain 14 acts as a proteolytic enzyme whose overexpression‎ has been associated with decreased in vitro expression‎ of desmoglein 1 and filaggrin proteins, and an associated impaired epithelial barrier in the esophagus.91–94 Filaggrin and desmoglein 1 were confirmed to be downregulated in expression‎ in vivo in EoE, with the ability of IL-13 overexpression‎ to independently decrease filaggrin.72

Tissue remodeling is seen in chronic EoE.95 Epithelial desquamation, basal zone hyperplasia, subepithelial fibrosis, angiogenesis, and/or smooth muscle hypertrophy have been reported in EoE.95 In a immunohistochemical analysis of esophageal biopsy specimens of children with and without EoE, biopsies from pediatric cases of EoE demonstrated increased subepithelial fibrosis and TGFβ expression‎ compared to controls.96 There was also increased vascularity seen with increased vascular cell adhesion molecule 1 expression‎.96 Chehade et al found that esophageal subepithelial fibrosis was also common (57%) among a sample of 21 children with EoE undergoing distal esophageal biopsy, of which 42% had dysphagia.97 Fibrosis was correlated with esophageal eosinophil degranulation and activation.97 Aceves et al found that a rigid substrate matrix induces changes in esophageal smooth muscle cells leading to increased contraction and cellular hypertrophy.98 Clinically, tissue remodeling results in esophageal narrowing, strictures, dysmotility, and food impactions over time.95

The pathogenesis of other EGIDs is even less understood, although an allergic component has been suggested in some instances. An adult study of allergic EGE noted increased allergen-specific, IL-5-producing Th2 cells present in EGE as compared to increased non-IL-5-producing Th2 cells in IgE-mediated peanut allergy, which has yet to be further explored.99 Gastric biopsy samples in patients with EGE also showed increased Th2 cytokines (IL-4, IL-5, IL-13) and eosinophil-related chemokine eotaxin-3 upregulation.100 A Japanese case series of EGE revealed small intestinal villi flattening in 4 of 6 patients on endoscopy.101 A comparison of EGE patients with controls showed increased IL-3, GM-CSF, and IL-5 in 9 of 10 EGE patients, which was not observed in controls.102 While eosinophils are normally found to varying degrees in the lower gastrointestinal tract, uncertainty exists when assessing the origin of lower GI tract eosinophilia, since other non-EGID disorders may contribute such as parasitic infection, food or drug allergy, inflammatory bowel disease, or hypereosinophilic syndrome.103 Endoscopic and histopathologic features of nonesophageal EGIDs are being investigated, and there is an ongoing need for consensus of diagnostic criteria for these EGIDs.104 Table 3 summarizes the clinical features and pathophysiology of EGIDs.

Table 3

Summary of EGIDs

DisorderEoE71,72,86–90,92,94,104EG73,100,104EGE73,101,102,104,125

Clinical features	Abdominal pain, dysphagia, nausea, emesis, esophageal food impaction, heartburn, diarrhea, chest pain, bloody stools, failure to thrive	Abdominal pain, vomiting, diarrhea, bloody stools, iron-deficiency anemia, malabsorption, protein losing enteropathy, and failure to thrive (mucosal form); GI obstructive symptoms (muscularis form)	Abdominal pain, vomiting, diarrhea, bloody stools, iron-deficiency anemia, malabsorption, protein losing enteropathy, and failure to thrive (mucosal form); GI obstructive symptoms (muscularis form)
Endoscopic findings	Furrows, white plaques, loss of vascular pattern, rings, stricture, shearing	Micronodules (and/or polyposis) often with aggregates of lymphocytes and eosinophils	Flattening of small intestinal villi
Histologic findings	Eosinophils on biopsy	Eosinophils on biopsy	Eosinophils on biopsy
Associated inflammatory cytokine	IL-5, IL-13, IL-15, plasma basic fibroblast growth factor	IL-4, IL-5, IL-13	IL-3, GM-CSF, and IL-5

Open in a separate window

Management

Management options for EoE are diverse. The 2020 Joint Task Force (JTF) of the American Gastroenterological Association (AGA), American Academy of Allergy, Asthma, and Immunology (AAAAI), and American College of Allergy, Asthma, and Immunology (ACAAI) recently provided an updated practice parameter guideline for management of EoE.105 Swallowed topical steroids are considered first-line therapy for EoE, and the only therapy to receive a strong recommendation by the 2020 Joint Task Force.105,106

Elimination diets have been used with varying success rates for EGIDs, with most success reported in EoE.105–107 A six food empiric elimination diet (milk, egg, wheat, soy, peanut, tree nuts) has been effective in children and adults, with studies citing rates as high as 74% remission of disease.108 Less restrictive empiric eliminations diets, such as four food (milk, egg, wheat, soy) and two food (milk, wheat) eliminations diets, provide less conservative alternatives that can be stepped up or down and monitored for symptom response with endoscopy.107 Allergy test directed elimination diets are not recommended as skin prick testing, patch testing, and serum IgE have poor positive and negative predictive values for identifying food triggers.107 The use of elemental formula and food restriction is another less popular approach, given the significant restrictions it places on the individual. Elemental formula can be expensive, have limited insurance approval, and may be difficult to introduce due to unpleasant tastes associated with this formula type.109 Overall, elimination diets are only conditionally recommended with low to very low quality evidence to support its use.105 A comprehensive nutritional assessment is suggested with the use of any elimination diet to ensure adequate nutrition.110 Similarly, proton pump inhibitors and periodic esophageal dilation are additional therapies with conditional recommendations.105

Biologic treatment therapies are the new frontier of EoE management and are actively being explored. Lirentelimab, an anti–siglec-8 antibody that depletes eosinophils and acts as a mast cell inhibitor, has been shown to reduce gastrointestinal eosinophils in patients with eosinophilic gastritis or duodenitis in Phase 2 trials.111 The average percentage change in GI eosinophilia was −86% in the treatment group compared to 9% in the placebo group (P<0.001), which was the study’s primary endpoint.111 Targeted biologic therapies also being eval‎uated include dupilumab which targets anti-IL-4 and anti-IL-13.105,112,113 A phase 2 clinical trial of adults with active EoE undergoing dupilumab treatment assessed for a change from baseline to week 10 in Straumann Dysphagia Instrument patient-reported outcome score as its primary outcome.113 Phase 3 trials for dupilumab are ongoing, and has been suggested as a potential add-on or monotherapy for EoE patients refractory to standard interventions for the future.114 A reduction of mean value of 3.0 at week 10 compared with a mean reduction of 1.3 in the placebo group in patient-reported scores of dysphagia was seen with dupilumab use (P = 0.0304).113 Biologics with anti-IL-5 activity are also under investigation including benralizumab, mepolizumab, and reslizumab.115 Anti-IL-13 targeted biologics studied in adult EoE patients has demonstrated significant decrease in cellular markers of epithelial mesenchymal transition which mediates the complication of fibrostenosis in patients.116–118 Hirano et al’s study of a monoclonal antibody against IL-13 showed a dose-dependent reduction in mean esophageal eosinophil count per hpf at 16 weeks of 94.8 ± 67.3 compared to placebo.117 Additional therapeutic targets include TNF-α and chemoattractant receptors on Th2 cells (CRTH2).119–121 Investigations into omalizumab as treatment for EoE have not been fruitful, further supporting EoE being an non-IgE mediated process, despite its utilization of Th2 pathway.114,122,123 Table 4 provides a summary of biologics under consideration for EoE.89,105,111–122

Table 4

Biologics Under Consideration for EoE

BiologicTherapeutic TargetMechanism of ActionFindings

Dupilumab	Anti-IL-4 and anti-IL-13	Human monoclonal antibody targeting alpha subunit of IL-4 receptor (IL-4Rα), modulates IL-4 and IL-13 signaling	Decrease in esophageal eosinophilia, endoscopic activity, and patient-reported symptoms113
Lirentelimab	Anti–siglec-8	Anti–siglec-8 antibody that depletes eosinophils and acts as a mast cell inhibitor	Decrease in tissue eosinophilia and symptoms in EG and eosinophilic duodenitis111,115
Benralizumab	Anti-IL-5	Humanized monoclonal antibody against IL-5 receptor alpha-chain on eosinophils	Decrease in absolute eosinophil count in hypereosinophilic syndrome115,126
Mepolizumab	Anti-IL-5	Humanized monoclonal antibody against IL-5 preventing receptor binding	Decrease in tissue eosinophilia Minor symptomatic improvement115,127–129
Reslizumab	Anti-IL-5	Humanized monoclonal antibody against IL-5 preventing receptor binding	Decrease in tissue eosinophilia115,130–132
QAX576	Anti-IL-13	Humanized monoclonal antibody against IL-13 that inhibits T cell secreted IL-13	Decrease in tissue eosinophilia No significant effect on clinical activity.116
RPC4046	Anti-IL-13	Humanized monoclonal antibody against IL-13 that prevents binding to receptor subunits IL13RA1 and IL13RA2	Decrease in tissue eosinophilia and endoscopic activity. Trend of reduction in dysphagia noted.117,133
Omalizumab	Anti-IgE	Humanized monoclonal antibody against IgE	Not helpful in EoE114,122,123
Infliximab	Anti-TNF-α	Chimeric IgG1 monoclonal antibody and TNF-α inhibitor	Does not induce resolution of tissue eosinophilia or significant reduction of symptoms120
OC000459	Anti-CRTH2	Antagonist of chemoattractant receptors on Th2 cells (CRTH2) that interferes with prostaglandin pathway including prostaglandin D2	Decrease in tissue eosinophilia and symptoms121
Vedolizumab	Anti-α4β7	Humanized monoclonal antibody against α4β7	Clinical and histologic improvement of EoE134–136
Tofacitinib	Janus kinase inhibitor (JAK1 and JAK 3)	JAK1 and JAK3 inhibitor	Clinical and histologic improvement of EoE137

Open in a separate window

Go to:

Discussion and Conclusions

In this review, we summarize the clinical manifestations, epidemiology, and current understanding of the pathophysiology of FPIES, FPIAP, FPE, and EGIDs, including mainly EoE. With regard to epidemiology, overlapping features of common pediatric conditions in infancy (ie, reflux, colic, rash) and variations in infant dietary practices (ie, breastfeeding versus formula use) may affect existing preval‎ence rates. While gains have been made in understanding these disorders, more information is needed on the exact pathophysiology of these less well understood food allergies. Among the non-IgE-mediated food allergies, there are a variety of immunologic pathways that may underlie their pathophysiology. While FPIES is likely driven by innate immunity, EGIDs appear to be predominantly driven by Th2 processes (Table 5). At the tissue level, the morphology of the intestinal lumen integrity is altered in each disorder leading to findings which can be confirmed histologically. A significant eosinophilic presence is also seen among these non-IgE mediated disorders and in EGIDs to sustain inflammation and possible tissue remodeling.

Table 5

Comparison of FPIES, FPIAP, and FPE

DisorderFPIESFPIAPFPE

Clinical features	Acute: repetitive, protracted vomiting, watery diarrhea, pallor lethargy, hypovolemic shock Chronic: intermittent yet progressive vomiting, watery diarrhea, weight loss, failure to thrive, lethargy, dehydration, metabolic derangements	Blood-streaked and/or mucus-containing stools, colicky behavior, increased bowel movements, anemia in severe cases	Protracted, non-bloody, diarrhea in the first 9 months of life, failure to thrive, vomiting, eczema, recurrent respiratory infections, abdominal distention, malabsorption
Endoscopic findings	Colitis, mucosal friability, and loss of vascular pattern	Focal erythema with lymphoid nodular hyperplasia	Lymphonodular hyperplasia of the duodenum and colon, villous atrophy
Histologic findings	Eosinophils in the lamina propria, focal eosinophilic infiltration of the epithelium on rectal mucosal biopsy; colitis with crypt abscesses, mucus depletion of rectal glands, and polymorphonuclear leukocytes within the lamina propria; partial villous atrophy and blunting	Eosinophilic infiltration and degranulation of the rectosigmoid colon in close proximity to the lymphoid nodules	Damage to villous architecture of the intestine: villous atrophy, lymphonodular hyperplasia of the duodenum and colon, increased intraepithelial lymphocytes (>25/100 epithelial cells) and marked eosinophil infiltration and degranulation in the mucosa; increased intestinal intraepithelial CD8+ T cells that are food-allergen specific
Inflammatory mediators of pathogenesis	Interleukin (IL)-1B, IL-2, IL-3, IL-4, IL-5, IL-6, IL-8, IL-9, IL-10, IL-13, IL-17 family cytokines (IL-17A, IL-22, IL-17C, and CCL20), oncostatin M, leukemia inhibitory factor, TNF-α, and REG1A Evidence suggests broad innate immune cell activation and T lymphocyte (non Th2) mechanism	Increased TNF-α; decreased TGF-β1 receptor activity and TGF-β ligand expression‎ Evidence suggests predominantly eosinophil mediated response	IFN-Y and IL-4 cytokines have been identified in jejunal biopsy specimens Evidence suggests T lymphocyte (Th2 and CD8 effector cells) predominant mechanisms
Diagnosis	Based on clinical history	Based on clinical history	Requires biopsy for histological confirmation, clinical history
Management	Removal of triggering food, supportive care with fluid rehydration (PO or IV), consider steroids and/or ondansetron for severe cases, guidance for further food introduction	Maternal elimination diet in breastfed infants, trial of extensively hydrolyzed or amino acid-based formula in either breastfed or formula-fed infants	Avoidance of triggering food, dietary support
Prognosis	Resolution of symptoms by age 1–5 years	Resolution of symptoms by age 12 months	Resolution of symptoms by age 24–36 months

Open in a separate window

Several gaps, however, remain in our understanding of non-IgE-mediated food allergy. For example, reasons for why these disorders localize to certain areas of the gut are unknown. Studies identifying why the rectosigmoid colon may be more affected in FPIAP versus the more extensive small and large intestinal involvement seen in FPIES and/or FPE small intestinal involvement are needed. Additional limitations include gaps in understanding the exact pathways involved in how these disorders develop. While activation of certain immune cell subtypes and cytokines have been identified these disorders, the mechanistic steps in which these cells may perceive food antigen, recruit cytokines to specific locations, and propagate inflammatory effects to their respective tissues are largely unknown.

For instance, in FPIES, the phenotype and mechanism of a pathogenic food-specific T cell response in the intestinal mucosa of affected individuals has not yet been demonstrated, which could likely offer many insights.124 Barriers, as previously noted, include the fact that the inflammatory cascade may be in part localized to the gastrointestinal tract, thus activated T cells cannot be easily accessed in the peripheral circulation for study.38 There is simultaneously a lack of access to gastrointestinal tissue of affected patients, since endoscopy and biopsy are not part of the routine clinical care of FPIES—thus limiting the ability for further studies.40 We thus rely on noninvasive means of identifying food-specific cells in the gastrointestinal tract during acute reactions.40

While FPIES, FPIAP, EGIDS and FPE have different timelines for symptom resolution (Table 5), it remains unclear exactly how tolerance develops, and how this may vary by disorder. Future studies aimed at understanding the exact immunological mechanisms of disease, in the hopes of identifying additional diagnostic markers and even therapeutic targets for intervention, are recommended. Future studies that distinguish between infants with varying feeding practices, such as those that are mostly breastfed versus formula fed, are also recommended in order to understand how small amounts of protein found in breast milk may still cause symptomatology among infants. For now, given the self-limited nature of many of these conditions, the mainstay of management is diagnosis based on clinical symptoms and food trigger avoidance.

Go to:

Funding Statement

There is no funding to report.

Go to:

Abbreviations

FPIES, food protein-induced enterocolitis; FPE, food-protein enteropathy; FPIAP, food protein-induced allergic proctocolitis; EGIDs, eosinophilic gastrointestinal disorders; EoE, eosinophilic esophagitis; EG, eosinophilic gastritis; EGE, eosinophilic gastroenteritis; EC, eosinophilic colitis; CM, cow’s milk; FTT, failure to thrive; OFC, oral food challenge.

Go to:

Disclosures

Scott Sicherer – Reports royalty payments from UpToDate and from Johns Hopkins University Press; grants to his institution from the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, from Food Allergy Research and Education; and personal fees from the American Academy of Allergy, Asthma and Immunology, outside of the submitted work.

M Cecilia Berin – Reports grants to her institution from the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, outside of the submitted work.

The authors report no other conflicts of interest in this work.

Go to:

References

1. Nowak-Węgrzyn A, Katz Y, Mehr SS, Koletzko S. Non-IgE-mediated gastrointestinal food allergy. J Allergy Clin Immunol. 2015;135(5):1114–1124. doi: 10.1016/j.jaci.2015.03.025 [PubMed] [CrossRef] [Google Scholar]

2. Connors L, O’Keefe A, Rosenfield L, Kim H. Non-IgE-mediated food hypersensitivity. Allergy Asthma Clin Immunol. 2018;14(Suppl 2):56. doi: 10.1186/s13223-018-0285-2 [PMC free article] [PubMed] [CrossRef] [Google Scholar]

3. Gryboski JD. Gastrointestinal milk allergy in infants. Pediatrics. 1967;40(3):354–362. doi: 10.1542/peds.40.3.354 [PubMed] [CrossRef] [Google Scholar]

4. Powell GK. Enterocolitis in low-birth-weight infants associated with milk and soy protein intolerance. J Pediatr. 1976;88(5):840–844. doi: 10.1016/s0022-3476(76)81128-6 [PubMed] [CrossRef] [Google Scholar]

5. Powell GK. Milk- and soy-induced enterocolitis of infancy. Clinical features and standardization of challenge. J Pediatr. 1978;93(4):553–560. doi: 10.1016/s0022-3476(78)80887-7 [PubMed] [CrossRef] [Google Scholar]

6. McDonald PJ, Powell GK, Goldblum RM. Serum D-xylose absorption tests: reproducibility and diagnostic usefulness in food-induced enterocolitis. J Pediatr Gastroenterol Nutr. 1982;1(4):533–536. doi: 10.1097/00005176-198212000-00013 [PubMed] [CrossRef] [Google Scholar]

7. Sicherer SH, Eigenmann PA, Sampson HA. Clinical features of food protein-induced enterocolitis syndrome. J Pediatr. 1998;133(2):214–219. doi: 10.1016/s0022-3476(98)70222-7 [PubMed] [CrossRef] [Google Scholar]

8. Nowak-Węgrzyn A, Chehade M, Groetch ME, et al. International consensus guidelines for the diagnosis and management of food protein-induced enterocolitis syndrome: executive summary-Workgroup Report of the Adverse Reactions to Foods Committee, American Academy of Allergy, Asthma & Immunology. J Allergy Clin Immunol. 2017;139(4):1111–1126.e4. doi: 10.1016/j.jaci.2016.12.966 [PubMed] [CrossRef] [Google Scholar]

9. Baker MG, Nowak-Wegrzyn A. Food protein-induced enterocolitis syndrome: epidemiology and comorbidities. Curr Opin Allergy Clin Immunol. 2020;20(2):168–174. doi: 10.1097/aci.0000000000000615 [PubMed] [CrossRef] [Google Scholar]

10. Nowak-Wegrzyn A, Berin MC, Mehr S. Food protein-induced enterocolitis syndrome. J Allergy Clin Immunol Pract. 2020;8(1):24–35. doi: 10.1016/j.jaip.2019.08.020 [PubMed] [CrossRef] [Google Scholar]

11. Hwang JB, Lee SH, Kang YN, Kim SP, Suh SI, Kam S. Indexes of suspicion of typical cow’s milk protein-induced enterocolitis. J Korean Med Sci. 2007;22(6):993–997. doi: 10.3346/jkms.2007.22.6.993 [PMC free article] [PubMed] [CrossRef] [Google Scholar]

12. Katz Y, Goldberg MR, Rajuan N, Cohen A, Leshno M. The preval‎ence and natural course of food protein-induced enterocolitis syndrome to cow’s milk: a large-scale, prospective population-based study. J Allergy Clin Immunol. 2011;127(3):647–53.e1–3. doi: 10.1016/j.jaci.2010.12.1105 [PubMed] [CrossRef] [Google Scholar]

13. Mehr S, Frith K, Barnes EH, Campbell DE. Food protein-induced enterocolitis syndrome in Australia: a population-based study, 2012–2014. J Allergy Clin Immunol. 2017;140(5):1323–1330. doi: 10.1016/j.jaci.2017.03.027 [PubMed] [CrossRef] [Google Scholar]

14. Nomura I, Morita H, Hosokawa S, et al. Four distinct subtypes of non-IgE-mediated gastrointestinal food allergies in neonates and infants, distinguished by their initial symptoms. J Allergy Clin Immunol. 2011;127(3):685–8.e1–8. doi: 10.1016/j.jaci.2011.01.019 [PubMed] [CrossRef] [Google Scholar]

15. Maciag MC, Bartnikas LM, Sicherer SH, et al. A slice of Food Protein-Induced Enterocolitis Syndrome (FPIES): insights from 441 children with FPIES as provided by Caregivers in the International FPIES Association. J Allergy Clin Immunol Pract. 2020;8(5):1702–1709. doi: 10.1016/j.jaip.2020.01.030 [PMC free article] [PubMed] [CrossRef] [Google Scholar]

16. Vila L, García V, Rial MJ, Novoa E, Cacharron T. Fish is a major trigger of solid food protein-induced enterocolitis syndrome in Spanish children. J Allergy Clin Immunol Pract. 2015;3(4):621–623. doi: 10.1016/j.jaip.2015.03.006 [PubMed] [CrossRef] [Google Scholar]

17. Sopo SM, Giorgio V, Dello Iacono I, Novembre E, Mori F, Onesimo R. A multicentre retrospective study of 66 Italian children with food protein-induced enterocolitis syndrome: different management for different phenotypes. Clin Exp Allergy. 2012;42(8):1257–1265. doi: 10.1111/j.1365-2222.2012.04027.x [PubMed] [CrossRef] [Google Scholar]

18. Mehr S, Frith K, Campbell DE. Epidemiology of food protein-induced enterocolitis syndrome. Curr Opin Allergy Clin Immunol. 2014;14(3):208–216. doi: 10.1097/aci.0000000000000056 [PMC free article] [PubMed] [CrossRef] [Google Scholar]

19. Nowak-Wegrzyn A, Sampson HA, Wood RA, Sicherer SH. Food protein-induced enterocolitis syndrome caused by solid food proteins. Pediatrics. 2003;111(4 Pt 1):829–835. doi: 10.1542/peds.111.4.829 [PubMed] [CrossRef] [Google Scholar]

20. McDonald PJ, Goldblum RM, Van Sickle GJ, Powell GK. Food protein-induced enterocolitis: altered antibody response to ingested antigen. Pediatr Res. 1984;18(8):751–755. doi: 10.1203/00006450-198408000-00016 [PubMed] [CrossRef] [Google Scholar]

21. Hwang JB, Sohn SM, Kim AS. Prospective follow-up oral food challenge in food protein-induced enterocolitis syndrome. Arch Dis Child. 2009;94(6):425–428. doi: 10.1136/adc.2008.143289 [PubMed] [CrossRef] [Google Scholar]

22. Chung HL, Hwang JB, Park JJ, Kim SG. Expression‎ of transforming growth factor beta1, transforming growth factor type I and II receptors, and TNF-alpha in the mucosa of the small intestine in infants with food protein-induced enterocolitis syndrome. J Allergy Clin Immunol. 2002;109(1):150–154. doi: 10.1067/mai.2002.120562 [PubMed] [CrossRef] [Google Scholar]

23. Caubet JC, Ford LS, Sickles L, et al. Clinical features and resolution of food protein-induced enterocolitis syndrome: 10-year experience. J Allergy Clin Immunol. 2014;134(2):382–389. doi: 10.1016/j.jaci.2014.04.008 [PubMed] [CrossRef] [Google Scholar]

24. Fogg MI, Brown-Whitehorn TA, Pawlowski NA, Spergel JM. Atopy patch test for the diagnosis of food protein-induced enterocolitis syndrome. Pediatr Allergy Immunol. 2006;17(5):351–355. doi: 10.1111/j.1399-3038.2006.00418.x [PubMed] [CrossRef] [Google Scholar]

25. Mehr S, Kakakios A, Frith K, Kemp AS. Food protein-induced enterocolitis syndrome: 16-year experience. Pediatrics. 2009;123(3):e459–64. doi: 10.1542/peds.2008-2029 [PubMed] [CrossRef] [Google Scholar]

26. Ruffner MA, Ruymann K, Barni S, Cianferoni A, Brown-Whitehorn T, Spergel JM. Food protein-induced enterocolitis syndrome: insights from review of a large referral population. J Allergy Clin Immunol Pract. 2013;1(4):343–349. doi: 10.1016/j.jaip.2013.05.011 [PubMed] [CrossRef] [Google Scholar]

27. Tan JA, Smith WB. Non-IgE-mediated gastrointestinal food hypersensitivity syndrome in adults. J Allergy Clin Immunol Pract. 2014;2(3):355–7.e1. doi: 10.1016/j.jaip.2014.02.002 [PubMed] [CrossRef] [Google Scholar]

28. Goldman H, Proujansky R. Allergic proctitis and gastroenteritis in children. Clinical and mucosal biopsy features in 53 cases. Am J Surg Pathol. 1986;10(2):75–86. doi: 10.1097/00000478-198602000-00001 [PubMed] [CrossRef] [Google Scholar]

29. Halpin TC, Byrne WJ, Ament ME. Colitis, persistent diarrhea, and soy protein intolerance. J Pediatr. 1977;91(3):404–407. doi: 10.1016/s0022-3476(77)81308-5 [PubMed] [CrossRef] [Google Scholar]

30. Fontaine JL, Navarro J. Small intestinal biopsy in cows milk protein allergy in infancy. Arch Dis Child. 1975;50(5):357–362. doi: 10.1136/adc.50.5.357 [PMC free article] [PubMed] [CrossRef] [Google Scholar]

31. Jenkins HR, Pincott JR, Soothill JF, Milla PJ, Harries JT. Food allergy: the major cause of infantile colitis. Arch Dis Child. 1984;59(4):326–329. doi: 10.1136/adc.59.4.326 [PMC free article] [PubMed] [CrossRef] [Google Scholar]