House dust mite allergen-specific B-cell receptor (HDM-BCR)

House dust mite allergen-specific B-cell receptors (BCRs) are membrane-bound immunoglobulins expressed on the surface of B cells that specifically recognize and bind to allergens from the Dermatophagoides genus, such as Der p 1 and Der p 2 (Heeringa et al., 2016). These receptors play a critical role in the pathogenesis of allergic diseases, including allergic rhinitis and asthma, by mediating the activation and differentiation of B cells into IgE-secreting plasma cells upon allergen exposure (Boonpiyathad et al., 2019). In sensitized individuals, the cross-linking of these BCRs triggers signaling cascades that promote the production of pro-inflammatory antibodies and the recruitment of other immune cells (Journal of Allergy and Clinical Immunology, 2016). Therapeutic strategies targeting these receptors or the B cells that express them include allergen-specific immunotherapy (AIT), which aims to induce immune tolerance by shifting the immune response toward protective IgG4 production and regulatory B cell (Breg) activity (Allergy, 2019). Monitoring the frequency and phenotype of these allergen-specific B cells serves as a valuable biomarker for assessing the efficacy of desensitization treatments (Science Immunology, 2020).

Other names

Dermatophagoides-specific B-cell receptorDer p-specific B-cell receptorDer f-specific B-cell receptorAllergen-specific B-cell receptor

Allergen-specific immunotherapy (AIT) modulates the B-cell receptor signaling environment to favor the production of IgG4 blocking antibodies and the expansion of IL-10-secreting regulatory B cells, thereby neutralizing allergens before they can trigger IgE-mediated mast cell degranulation (Boonpiyathad et al., 2019).