This is a preprint of a to be submitted paper that demonstrates that: (1) many important food allergens (eggs, milk, peanuts, tree nuts) induce the unfolded protein response (UPR) in intestinal epithelial cells; (2) induction of the UPR, in turn, stimulates the expression of pro-Th2 cytokines (IL-25, IL-33, TSLP) that are required for the induction of food allergy by these cytokines; (3) egg allergy is suppressed in mouse models by the UPR inhibitor, metformin (a drug widely used to treat diabetes mellitus); and (4) metformin appears to have a protective effects in humans who have alpha-gal syndrome, which is a form of food allergy.
