B-cell receptor specific for Rumex obtusifolius allergens (BCR)

The B-cell receptor (BCR) specific for Rumex obtusifolius allergens is a specialized transmembrane protein complex located on the surface of B lymphocytes that recognizes and binds to proteins from the broad-leaved dock plant (Rumex obtusifolius) (Janeway et al., 2001). This receptor is composed of a membrane-bound immunoglobulin (mIg) molecule, which determines antigen specificity, and a signaling heterodimer of Ig-alpha (CD79A) and Ig-beta (CD79B) (Reth & Wienands, 1997). In sensitized individuals, the BCR on specific B cell subsets recognizes allergens such as Rum o 1, a major calcium-binding protein (polcalcin) found in dock pollen (Wopfner et al., 2005). Engagement of the BCR by these allergens triggers intracellular signaling pathways, including the activation of Src-family kinases, which leads to B-cell proliferation and differentiation into plasma cells that secrete allergen-specific IgE (Dal Porto et al., 2004). This IgE production is a hallmark of Type I hypersensitivity, contributing to clinical symptoms of allergic rhinitis and seasonal asthma (Galli et al., 2008). Therapeutic interventions, such as allergen-specific immunotherapy (AIT), utilize Rumex obtusifolius extracts to target these BCRs, aiming to modulate the immune response toward tolerance by inducing regulatory T cells and promoting a class switch to protective IgG4 antibodies (Akdis & Akdis, 2015).

Other names

Surface immunoglobulinAntigen-specific B-cell receptorRumex obtusifolius-specific BCR

Allergen-specific immunotherapy (AIT) involves the repeated administration of the allergen to induce immunological tolerance, shifting the B-cell response from IgE production to IgG4 production and inducing regulatory T cells.