Major allergen Ole e 1 (Ole e 1)

Ole e 1 is the primary major allergen found in the pollen of the olive tree (Olea europaea) and serves as the prototype for the Ole e 1-like protein family, which includes homologous allergens from other Oleaceae species such as ash, privet, and lilac (UniProt: P19963). Biologically, these proteins are glycoproteins believed to play a crucial role in pollen germination and pollen tube growth (PMID: 15585361). In clinical medicine, Ole e 1 is a potent inducer of Type I hypersensitivity, responsible for allergic rhinitis and asthma in a large percentage of the population in Mediterranean regions (PMID: 25533353). The allergen acts by binding to specific IgE antibodies on the surface of mast cells and basophils, triggering the release of histamine and other inflammatory mediators. Therapeutic management includes allergen-specific immunotherapy (AIT), which uses controlled doses of the allergen to promote immune tolerance and shift the immune response from a Th2 to a Th1/Treg profile. Additionally, biological therapies like Omalizumab are used to block the IgE-mediated pathway, effectively preventing the allergen from initiating the allergic cascade (WHO/IUIS Allergen Nomenclature).

Other names

Olive pollen allergen Ole e 1Ole e 1-like proteinOleaceae major allergenOlea europaea allergen 1

Allergen-specific immunotherapy (AIT) utilizes standardized extracts of Ole e 1 to induce immune tolerance by promoting the production of regulatory T cells and allergen-specific IgG4 antibodies. Monoclonal antibodies like Omalizumab bind to circulating IgE, preventing the allergen from cross-linking IgE on the surface of mast cells and basophils.