A molecular insight of CTLA-4 in food allergy

Food allergy is an immune provocation induced by certain food in susceptible individuals. Most of the food allergic manifestations are evident in the individual having impaired oral tolerance. In spite of worldwide prevalence, there is no permanent cure of food allergy. Food allergic reactions are complex immunological events that comprises of several immune molecules like IgE, IL-4, IL-13 and T-cells, therefore, researchers are trying to pick the correct molecule to find out pivotal therapeutic solutions. Being a key regulatory molecule in suppressing T-cells functional activities, cytotoxic T-cell lymphocyte antigen-4 (CTLA-4) or cluster of differentiation-152 (CD-152) has contributed a novel and revolutionary dimension toward therapeutic research of several diseases. This review focuses on different immunological and mechanistic perspectives of CTLA-4 in correlation with food allergy.

► Food allergy is an increasing health concern worldwide.
► Impaired oral tolerance leads to food allergy.
► CTLA-4 is involved in T- cells suppression, TCR hyposignaling, and T-cells anergy.
► Treg, TLR and CTLA-4 may play an important role in oral tolerance.
► CTLA-4 could be a good therapeutic option of food allergy.