Major pollen allergen Dac g 4 (Dac g 4)

Dac g 4 is a major basic allergen found in the pollen of Dactylis glomerata, commonly known as Orchard grass or Cocksfoot grass [UniProt: P82946, NIH: 8977527]. It is a 60 kDa glycoprotein belonging to the Group 4 grass pollen allergen family, which are characterized as berberine bridge enzyme (BBE)-like proteins with oxidoreductase activity [Karger: 10.1159/000070174]. Dac g 4 is a significant trigger for seasonal allergic rhinitis and asthma in sensitized individuals, with a high prevalence of IgE binding among grass-pollen-allergic patients [NIH: 8977527]. It exhibits high cross-reactivity with other grass species, making it a key component in the diagnosis and treatment of grass pollen allergies [ThermoFisher: g3 Cocksfoot]. In clinical practice, Dac g 4 is a primary target for allergen-specific immunotherapy (AIT), where it is administered in the form of pollen extracts to desensitize the immune system and promote long-term clinical tolerance [NIH: 27535464]. Therapeutic strategies targeting Dac g 4 aim to shift the immune response from a Th2-mediated allergic state to a Treg-mediated tolerant state, often monitored by the induction of allergen-specific IgG4 antibodies.

Other names

Dactylis glomerata allergen 4Orchard grass allergen 4Cocksfoot grass allergen 4Group 4 grass pollen allergenDac g IV

Allergen-specific immunotherapy (AIT) involves the administration of increasing doses of the allergen to induce immunological tolerance, characterized by a shift from a Th2-mediated IgE response to a Th1/Treg-mediated response and the production of blocking IgG4 antibodies [NIH: 27535464].