Artemisia annua pollen allergen (Art a)

Artemisia annua pollen allergens are a group of proteins found in the pollen of the sweet wormwood plant, which is a significant source of seasonal respiratory allergies globally, particularly in East Asia (WHO/IUIS Allergen Nomenclature). The primary allergen, Art a 1, is a defensin-like protein characterized by a cysteine-rich domain and a proline-rich region, while other components include lipid transfer proteins (Art a 3) and pectate lyases (Art a 6) (UniProt P84347). These allergens trigger Type I hypersensitivity reactions in sensitized individuals by cross-linking IgE antibodies on the surface of mast cells and basophils, leading to the release of histamine and other inflammatory mediators (PubMed: 32821295). Clinically, exposure results in symptoms of allergic rhinitis, conjunctivitis, and bronchial asthma. These allergens are utilized as the active pharmaceutical ingredients in allergen-specific immunotherapy (AIT), which is the only disease-modifying treatment for pollen allergy (PubMed: 31003151). AIT works by gradually desensitizing the immune system to the allergen, promoting the development of regulatory T cells and the production of protective IgG4 antibodies (PubMed: 28212957).

Other names

Sweet wormwood pollen allergenSweet sagewort pollen allergenArt a 1Art a 2Art a 3Art a 4Art a 5Art a 6Art a 7

Allergen-specific immunotherapy (AIT) involves the repeated administration of the allergen to induce immunological tolerance by shifting the immune response from a Th2-dominated profile to a Th1/Treg-dominated profile, increasing the production of IL-10 and TGF-beta, and stimulating the synthesis of allergen-specific IgG4 antibodies that block IgE-mediated mast cell degranulation (PubMed: 31003151, PubMed: 28212957).