Immune system response to Artemisia pollen allergens

The immune system response to Artemisia pollen allergens, primarily from Artemisia vulgaris (Mugwort), is a classic Type I hypersensitivity reaction and a major cause of seasonal allergic disease (PMID: 15126414). The response is initiated when the major allergen Art v 1, a defensin-like protein, is recognized by the immune system, leading to the production of allergen-specific IgE antibodies (UniProt: P80176). These IgE antibodies bind to high-affinity FcεRI receptors on mast cells and basophils; subsequent exposure to the pollen causes allergen cross-linking of IgE, triggering the release of inflammatory mediators like histamine and leukotrienes (NIH: StatPearls). This physiological cascade results in symptoms such as allergic rhinitis, conjunctivitis, and asthma. Therapeutic management involves symptomatic relief with H1-antihistamines and corticosteroids, as well as disease-modifying allergen-specific immunotherapy (AIT) which aims to induce long-term immunological tolerance by shifting the Th2-heavy response toward a Treg/Th1 profile (PubMed: 29024345). Furthermore, the response is noted for its clinical cross-reactivity with various foods, known as the 'Mugwort-celery-spice syndrome' (PubMed: 12688622).

Other names

Mugwort pollen allergyArtemisia vulgaris hypersensitivityType I hypersensitivity to Artemisia pollenWeed pollen allergy

Inhibition of IgE-mediated mast cell degranulation, antagonism of H1 histamine receptors, and induction of allergen-specific T-cell tolerance through immunotherapy.