Birch pollen allergen extract (BPAE)

Birch pollen allergen extract is a biological product derived from the pollen of birch trees, primarily Betula verrucosa. It contains a mixture of proteins, with the major allergen Bet v 1 (a pathogenesis-related protein, PR-10) being the primary driver of allergic sensitization in humans (UniProt P15494). This extract is utilized in allergen-specific immunotherapy (AIT) to treat patients with moderate-to-severe birch pollen-induced allergic rhinitis and conjunctivitis (EMA Itulazax EPAR). By administering controlled doses of the allergen via sublingual or subcutaneous routes, the treatment modifies the underlying disease by inducing peripheral T-cell tolerance and promoting the production of protective IgG4 antibodies (PubMed: 24942082). This immunological shift reduces the inflammatory response upon subsequent natural exposure to birch pollen. Additionally, because Bet v 1 shares structural homology with proteins in various fruits and vegetables, the extract is highly relevant to Pollen-Food Allergy Syndrome (World Allergy Organization).

Other names

Betula verrucosa pollen extractBetula pendula pollen extractBirch pollen allergenBet v 1-containing extract

Induces allergen-specific immune tolerance by shifting the immune response from a Th2-mediated allergic profile to a Th1/Treg-mediated regulatory profile, increasing the production of blocking IgG4 antibodies and reducing IgE-mediated mast cell and basophil activation.