The Role of Genetics in Allergies: Can You Inherit Allergic Reactions?

About 33% of American adults suffer from allergies, and 25% of U.S. children do, too. Allergies may be tied to foods, pollen, pet dander, insects, and chemical ingredients. Did you know that some allergies can also be genetic?

While some allergies are all down to your body’s reaction to allergens, genetics can play a part in other allergies. It’s important to pinpoint what you’re allergic to, and how to address your allergies so that you’re not suffering from sneezing, watery eyes, irritated skin, and more. 

What Are Allergies?

Your body’s immune system is designed to react to invaders and keep them from causing harm. When something foreign gets into the body, be it through eating it, spreading it on pores, drinking it, or breathing it in, the body’s immune system responds in what should be an appropriate response by releasing histamines, which are chemicals that set out to rid the body of an intruder. The problem is the body can respond inappropriately. 

There are several types of allergies. Seasonal allergies are tied to pollen from plants and trees. Food allergies are triggered after eating certain foods and can be deadly. People can be allergic to animal dander and body fluids like saliva. People can be allergic to insect stings, mold spores, chemicals, and fragrances, too. The type of allergy is important as symptoms differ.

Someone with seasonal allergies experiences watery, itchy eyes, sneezing, congestion, and a runny nose. Food allergies can cause severe allergic reactions where the throat closes up. Allergies to pet dander cause symptoms similar to seasonal allergies, but skin irritation can also occur. Allergies to skin care product chemicals and fragrances usually cause rashes that are itchy or painful.

Here’s where it gets a little tricky. Your immune system has different cells and antibodies responsible for an allergic reaction.

• Basophils – Monitor the immune response and release histamines.
• Eosinophils – Creates an immediate inflammatory response and regulates it after it’s started.
• Immunoglobulin E (IgE) – Induce hypersensitivity.
• Mast Cells – Serve as an early warning system when there’s an interaction with a particle.
• T Cells – Boosts the immune response.

The Difference Between Single-Gene Inheritance vs. Polygenic Inheritance

There are different patterns when it comes to allergies and genetics.

Single-gene Inheritance occurs when you get a rare genetic condition from your parents. That condition makes you more susceptible to allergies. Autosomal dominant hyper-IgE syndrome (Job’s syndrome) is an example. It triggers an excessive inflammatory response that can create damage within the lungs and cause eczema and open sores on the skin.

Polygenic inheritance is another pattern. It’s a genetic characteristic influenced by at least two genes. Atopy is a genetic tendency to develop allergies. It’s a polygenic condition. About 8 out of 10 people with atopy have a long history of allergies in the family.

How Environmental Factors Play a Role in Allergies

Going back to environmental factors, recent research has found that children exposed to high levels of peanut proteins in early childhood are more likely to develop allergies. For example, 8 out of 10 infants whose parents used a peanut oil skin product during their first six months of life ended up with peanut allergies.

The interesting thing is that recent studies found something else with peanut allergies. Slowly introducing children to peanut products like peanut butter in their foods after the age of four months helped lower the rates of severe peanut allergies. 

Another study found that Memory B cells (MBC2s) remember the proteins that caused an allergy. When those MBC2 cells’ RNA stops JAK cells from triggering the type of response IgE creates, it stops allergies. Work is underway to come up with medications that block the JAK cells for good.

Understanding Genetic Markers

Pinpointing genetic markets is important in coming up with the best treatments for allergies. Genome-wide association studies (GWAS) can pinpoint the exact genetic variants within the body that trigger an allergic response. When you’re able to identify the genetic markers, it makes it easier to find a treatment that minimizes the histamine response. 

As more information is found, epigenetics comes into play. DNA methylation is a process where specific chemical groups change how genes work, which can change how the immune system functions.

One of the most common treatments for allergies is to identify the allergens that impact a person. Small doses of that allergen are injected into the blood through the skin. These injections are given weekly for up to 5 years. These allergy shots (SCIT) are best for environmental and insect allergies.

Intralymphatic immunotherapy is also an allergy shot, but it’s given directly into a lymph node using an ultrasound to make sure the needle placement is correct. It’s growing in popularity because you need only three shots given a month apart. 

The final option is a SLIT treatment, which is a needle-free option that’s ideal for seasonal allergies, mold allergies, and dust mites. Instead of a shot, you have a small amount of the allergen placed under your tongue. You must use these under-the-tongue dissolvable pills or drops daily for up to five years. 

The goal of all three treatments is to slowly introduce the allergen to your body. This gives your immune system time to adjust to the allergen and stop reacting so severely. Eventually, the allergic response goes away or is so minimal that the symptoms are easily tolerated.

Get Lasting Relief at Premium Allergy & Respiratory Center

True relief comes from working with a doctor who specializes in allergies. When allergies are severe, the risk of asthma is all too real. Plus, food allergies especially have been linked to life-threatening symptoms like anaphylactic shock. Don’t risk your health. Seek allergy treatments that work effectively at easing symptoms.

Allergy shots are one option available to patients today. A series of shots given over years slowly build up a healthy response to exposure to allergens. Instead of triggering the inflammatory response, your body handles an allergen without a reaction. Allergen immunotherapy treats allergic asthma, insect stings, seasonal allergies, and more. 

Premium Allergy is happy to discuss the best treatment option for your needs, even if you want a needle-free option like SLIT. Book an appointment for a comprehensive allergy screening and solutions that provide the relief you deserve.