Major pollen allergen Bet v 1-A (Bet v 1) (Bet v 1)

Major pollen allergen Bet v 1-A (Bet v 1) is the primary clinical driver of birch pollen allergy, affecting a significant portion of the population in temperate climates (UniProt P15494). It is a 17 kDa protein belonging to the Pathogenesis-Related protein family 10 (PR-10), characterized by a large hydrophobic internal cavity that facilitates the binding of various small lipophilic molecules (PubMed: 24563353). Among its natural ligands, quercetin and its derivatives (such as quercetin-3-O-glycosides) are prominently found within the pollen, and their binding is thought to influence the protein's structural stability and potentially its interaction with the human immune system (PubMed: 25180140). In sensitized individuals, Bet v 1 cross-links IgE on mast cells and basophils, triggering the release of inflammatory mediators that cause allergic rhinitis and asthma. Furthermore, Bet v 1 is the archetype for pollen-food allergy syndrome, where cross-reactivity with homologous proteins in foods like apples (Mal d 1) and hazelnuts (Cor a 1) causes oral symptoms (PubMed: 22405087). Therapeutically, Bet v 1 is the central target of allergen-specific immunotherapy (AIT), which aims to induce long-term immune tolerance through the administration of standardized allergen extracts or recombinant Bet v 1 (PubMed: 30101140).

Other names

Bet v 1Major birch pollen allergenPR-10 proteinBet v IAllergen Bet v 1

Allergen-specific immunotherapy (AIT) involves the controlled administration of the Bet v 1 antigen to induce immunological tolerance, shifting the immune response from a Th2-mediated IgE production to a Th1/Treg-mediated response characterized by the production of blocking IgG4 antibodies (PubMed: 30101140).