FOOD ALLERGY AND ITS ROLE IN GASTROINTEST INAL-DISEASE

Food antigens may play an important role in the etiology of a variety of gastrointestinal conditions ranging from food allergy and malabsorp tion syndromes to inflammatory bowel disease, However, the prevailing terminological confusion relative to allergy in the last years and in particular on the definition and classification of adverse reactions t o foods joined to the absence of definitive diagnostic tests have impe ded the investigation of food-allergic reactions. In the last few year s the development of animal models and its application to the clinical ground have brought about new light to the mechanisms that regulate t he response to antigenic challenge. In particular, the better understa nding of the participation of key cellular elements, such as mast cell s and basophils, in the modulation of immediate hypersensitivity react ions and the demonstration of the existence of IgE-independent immunol ogic mechanisms, have rendered new insights for diagnosis and treatmen t of food allergy.