Bet v 1-specific immune receptors

Bet v 1-specific immune receptors are the specialized T-cell receptors (TCRs) and B-cell receptors (BCRs) that recognize Bet v 1, the primary allergen found in birch pollen (Betula verrucosa). These receptors are the fundamental drivers of birch pollen allergy, a condition that triggers Type I hypersensitivity reactions in sensitized individuals, often manifesting as allergic rhinitis or asthma (Breiteneder et al., 1989) [1]. Upon binding to Bet v 1, these receptors initiate a Th2-dominated immune cascade, leading to the synthesis of allergen-specific IgE and the subsequent activation of mast cells and basophils (Valenta et al., 2010) [4]. Therapeutic strategies, most notably allergen-specific immunotherapy (AIT), target these receptors by exposing the immune system to controlled doses of the allergen to induce desensitization (Akdis & Akdis, 2014) [2]. Drugs like Itulazax work by shifting the immune response toward a regulatory phenotype, increasing the levels of regulatory T cells and blocking IgG4 antibodies that prevent the allergen from cross-linking IgE on the surface of immune cells (Biedermann et al., 2019) [3].

Other names

Bet v 1-specific T-cell receptorBet v 1-specific B-cell receptorBirch pollen allergen receptorsBet v 1-specific TCRBet v 1-specific BCR

Allergen-specific immunotherapy (AIT) induces immune tolerance by promoting the differentiation of regulatory T cells (Tregs) and the production of allergen-specific IgG4 antibodies, which compete with IgE for binding to Bet v 1, thereby preventing the activation of Bet v 1-specific immune receptors on effector cells.