Celtis occidentalis pollen allergen Cel o 1 (Cel o 1)

Celtis occidentalis (Common Hackberry) pollen is a significant aeroallergen, particularly in the Midwestern United States, where it is a frequent cause of seasonal allergic rhinitis and asthma [1]. The primary molecular target within this pollen is the major allergen Cel o 1, which belongs to the pectate lyase protein family [2]. In sensitized individuals, Cel o 1 is processed by professional antigen-presenting cells, and its constituent peptides are displayed on the cell surface via Major Histocompatibility Complex (MHC) class II molecules [3]. These peptide-MHC complexes are specifically recognized by the T-cell receptors (TCRs) of CD4+ T cells, initiating a Th2-polarized immune response characterized by the secretion of cytokines like IL-4 and IL-13 [4]. This signaling cascade promotes the production of allergen-specific IgE antibodies, which bind to mast cells and trigger the release of inflammatory mediators upon subsequent exposure [5]. Therapeutic strategies include allergen-specific immunotherapy (AIT), which utilizes hackberry pollen extracts to induce immunological tolerance and shift the immune response toward a regulatory or Th1 profile [6].

Other names

Hackberry pollen allergenCeltis occidentalis pectate lyaseCel o 1.0101Hackberry pMHC complex

Allergen-specific immunotherapy (AIT) works by inducing peripheral T-cell tolerance, increasing the production of regulatory T cells (Tregs) and suppressive cytokines like IL-10 and TGF-beta, and promoting a shift from IgE to IgG4 antibody production [4, 6].