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A common food additive has removed two types of T cells, which respond to the flu virus when a person is infected, in laboratory mice. This has also affected the memory response of the immune system and reduces the effectiveness of the vaccines. ( pixabay )
New research has warned that an additive present in common foods, including crackers, suppresses the immune system, making people more susceptible to the flu virus.
In addition, researchers have shown that exposure to tert-butylhydroquinone or tBHQ may inhibit the effects of influenza vaccine.
The results, which will be presented at the 2019 experimental biology meeting in Florida this week, could explain why seasonal flu remains a threat to public health.
Common food additive linked to weakened immune system
According to the researchers, tBHQ has directly affected the function of helper and killer T cells that respond to the influenza virus when a person is infected. The helper T cell looks for infected cells. Meanwhile, the killer T cell removes the infection from the body.
However, in mouse models, tBHQ suppressed both types of T cells. After feeding laboratory mice with food containing the common additive, researchers found that helper T cells and killers responded more slowly, which meant that infected laboratory mice took longer to recover.
"At the present time, my main hypothesis is that tBHQ causes these effects by upregulating certain proteins that are known to suppress the immune system," explained candidate Robert Freeborn, Ph.D. at Michigan State University. "The expression of these proteins, CTLA-4 and IL-10, has been upregulated in two different models that we use in the laboratory."
Further research is needed to confirm the hypothesis.
The researchers also found that mice fed tBHQ-enriched food had been reinfected with a different but related strain of the influenza virus. This implies that the memory response of the immune system has also been compromised.
Vaccines rely on the memory response of the immune system, which may mean that if the person consumes food with tBHQ, its efficacy could also be affected.
tBHQ in the scheme of each
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention have stated that the current influenza season does not end and will probably be relatively long. In its latest surveillance report, the public health agency reported that influenza-like illness activity in the United States remains above the national baseline.
Unfortunately, the flu virus seems inevitable. The researchers said that it would be difficult to avoid the tBHQ because the food additive is not often listed as an ingredient. It is also found in common foods consumed by the public, including frozen meat and oil used for frying.
Researchers have suggested that discriminating against foods and choosing pre-packaged treats could help fight the flu virus.
"Since tBHQ is widely used to stabilize fats, a low-fat diet and reduced processed snack foods will help reduce tBHQ consumption," said Freeborn.
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