Allergen-specific CD4+ T cells recognizing Jack Jumper ant venom peptides presented on HLA class II (JJA-specific CD4+ T cells)

Allergen-specific CD4+ T cells are the primary orchestrators of the allergic immune response to Jack Jumper ant (Myrmecia pilosula) venom. These cells recognize specific venom peptides, such as Myr p 1 and Myr p 2, when presented by HLA class II molecules on antigen-presenting cells (PMID: 21834863). In sensitized individuals, these T cells exhibit a Th2-polarized phenotype, secreting cytokines like IL-4 and IL-13 that drive IgE production and mast cell sensitization (PMID: 15940132). Therapeutic intervention, primarily through Jack Jumper ant venom immunotherapy (JJAVIT), aims to modify this T cell response by inducing peripheral tolerance, characterized by a shift from Th2 to Th1 or regulatory T cell (Treg) profiles (PMID: 12532103). This modulation reduces the risk of life-threatening anaphylaxis upon subsequent stings. Monitoring these cells often involves measuring activation markers like CD154 or using MHC class II tetramers to track the frequency and phenotype of the allergen-specific population (PMID: 25577574).

Other names

Myrmecia pilosula-specific CD4+ T cellsJack Jumper ant venom-reactive T cellsMyr p-specific T cellsVenom-specific CD4+ T lymphocytes

Induction of immune tolerance through T cell anergy, deletion, or immune deviation from a Th2 to a Th1 or regulatory T cell (Treg) phenotype.