Immunoglobulin E specific for Amb a 1 (Amb a 1-sIgE)

Immunoglobulin E (IgE) specific for Amb a 1 is the key immunological component responsible for allergic reactions to short ragweed (Ambrosia artemisiifolia) (Wopfner et al., 2005). Amb a 1, a 38 kDa pectate lyase, is the immunodominant allergen in ragweed pollen, and the production of specific IgE against it leads to Type I hypersensitivity (UniProt P27759). When an individual is exposed to ragweed pollen, Amb a 1 binds to these specific IgE antibodies already anchored to mast cells and basophils through the high-affinity FcεRI receptor (Galli & Tsai, 2012). This binding triggers the release of potent inflammatory mediators, causing symptoms such as sneezing, nasal congestion, and itchy eyes, commonly known as hay fever (NIH, 2023). Therapeutic approaches include the use of anti-IgE monoclonal antibodies like omalizumab, which reduce the overall pool of available IgE, and allergen-specific immunotherapy (AIT) like Ragwitek, which aims to reprogram the immune response (FDA, 2014). Measuring Amb a 1-specific IgE levels in the blood is a critical diagnostic tool for identifying ragweed allergy and monitoring the efficacy of immunotherapy (PubMed, 2021).

Other names

Anti-Amb a 1 IgERagweed-specific IgEShort ragweed allergen 1-specific IgEAmb a 1-sIgE

Neutralization of circulating IgE to prevent binding to high-affinity IgE receptors (FcεRI) on mast cells and basophils, or induction of immune tolerance through allergen-specific immunotherapy to shift the antibody response from IgE to IgG4 (Galli & Tsai, 2012; FDA, 2014).