B-cell receptor specific for cat epithelial allergens (BCR)

B-cell receptors (BCRs) specific for cat epithelial allergens are specialized membrane-bound immunoglobulins found on the surface of B lymphocytes that recognize and bind to proteins found in cat dander and saliva, most notably the major allergen Fel d 1 (Gronlund et al., 2010). These receptors are central to the pathogenesis of cat allergy, as their engagement by allergens triggers B cell activation, clonal expansion, and the production of allergen-specific IgE antibodies (Janeway's Immunobiology). In sensitized individuals, the cross-linking of these BCRs or the subsequent binding of secreted IgE to mast cells and basophils leads to the release of inflammatory mediators, resulting in symptoms of allergic rhinitis and asthma (NIH, 2023). Therapeutic strategies targeting this pathway include allergen-specific immunotherapy (AIT), which aims to induce immune tolerance by shifting the immune response from a Th2/IgE-mediated profile to a Th1/IgG4-mediated profile (StatPearls, 2023). Additionally, monoclonal antibodies like Omalizumab target the IgE molecule itself, while experimental therapies such as REGN1908 and REGN1909 aim to neutralize the Fel d 1 allergen to prevent it from interacting with the BCR and initiating the allergic cascade (Regeneron, 2021).

Other names

Fel d 1-specific B-cell receptorCat allergen-specific B-cell receptorFel d 1-binding B-cell receptorAllergen-specific BCR

Allergen-specific immunotherapy (AIT) induces immune tolerance by promoting the production of IgG4 blocking antibodies and regulatory T cells, thereby preventing allergen-BCR interaction and IgE production. Monoclonal antibodies like Omalizumab bind to circulating IgE, reducing the density of IgE-BCRs on B cells. Neutralizing antibodies like REGN1908 and REGN1909 bind directly to the Fel d 1 allergen, preventing it from cross-linking BCRs or IgE on effector cells.