B-cell receptor specific for grass and rye pollen allergens (BCR)

B-cell receptors (BCRs) specific for grass and rye pollen allergens are membrane-bound immunoglobulins expressed on the surface of B lymphocytes that recognize specific allergenic proteins, such as Phl p 1 and Phl p 5 from Timothy grass (Phleum pratense) or Lol p 1 from rye grass (Lolium perenne) (PMID: 29424230). These receptors are central to the pathogenesis of Type I hypersensitivity, as they mediate the capture of allergens and the subsequent activation of B cells, leading to the production of allergen-specific IgE antibodies (PMID: 30102918). In allergic individuals, the engagement of these BCRs and the resulting IgE production drive the inflammatory response seen in seasonal allergic rhinitis and asthma (PMID: 28212985). Therapeutic interventions, most notably allergen immunotherapy (AIT), utilize standardized pollen extracts to interact with these BCRs to induce immunological tolerance (PMID: 31003118). AIT promotes a shift from IgE production to the synthesis of protective IgG4 antibodies and the induction of regulatory B cells (Bregs), which suppress the allergic cascade (PMID: 25231098). The frequency and activation state of these allergen-specific B cells are increasingly used as biomarkers to monitor the efficacy of immunotherapy and the development of clinical tolerance (PMID: 32654414).

Other names

Allergen-specific B-cell receptorGrass pollen-specific BCRRye pollen-specific BCRPhl p-specific BCRLol p-specific BCR

Allergen immunotherapy (AIT) involves the administration of specific allergens that bind to the B-cell receptor, inducing immune tolerance by promoting the expansion of regulatory T and B cells, shifting antibody production from IgE to IgG4, and reducing the activation of inflammatory cells.