A breakthrough by scientists at the University could provide hope for people who have had to choose between their health and their pet.

The team of immunologists led by Drs Ghaem-Maghami and Martinez-Pomares in the School of Molecular Medical Sciences, and funded by Asthma UK, has identified a cell component which plays a key role in triggering allergic responses to cat dander. The discovery could pave the way in developing allergy treatments and is good news for the millions of asthma sufferers whose condition is worsened by airborne allergens from cat dander or house dust mite. Cat dander consists of microscopic pieces of cat skin which become airborne.

Dr Amir Ghaem-Maghami said: “Many people with asthma are highly sensitive to airborne allergens such as cat dander or house dust mite. In fact, many studies have shown that up to 40% of children with asthma are allergic to cat allergens.”

Dr Elaine Vickers, Research Relations Manager at Asthma UK, says: “We are delighted to see the rapid progress that Dr Ghaem-Maghami and his colleagues are making. This is a great example of where Asthma UK’s research funding is leading to a better understanding of asthma which could ultimately benefit thousands of people with both asthma and allergies.”

If it believes itself to be under attack, the body’s immune system produces a molecule called IgE, which leads to release of chemicals (including histamine) by certain cells which together cause an inflammatory response and the classic symptoms of allergy. The Nottingham work, published in the Journal of Biological Chemistry, focused on the mannose receptor (MR), and the dendritic cells – among the first in the immune system to come into contact with allergens.

The team found that the MR binds to a range of allergens and plays an important role in the response to house dust mite allergens. They looked at the contribution of MR to allergy caused by a major cat allergen called Fel d 1, proving that MR is needed for the body to recognise Fel d 1 as a potential foreign invader and for the production of IgE against Fel d 1.

The discovery shows that MR plays a pivotal role not only in recognising allergens but also in provoking the body’s allergic response to them.