Scratching the skin primes the gut for allergic reactions to food, mouse study suggests

Scratching the skin triggers a series of immune responses culminating in an increased number of activated mast cells -- immune cells involved in allergic reactions -- in the small intestine, according to research conducted in mice. This newly identified skin-gut communication helps illuminate the relationship between food allergy and atopic dermatitis (a type of eczema), a disease characterized by dry, itchy skin.

from Plants & Animals News -- ScienceDaily http://bit.ly/2IT4uXw
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