Peanut-specific regulatory T cell (Peanut-specific Treg)

Peanut-specific regulatory T cells (Tregs) are a specialized subset of CD4+ T lymphocytes that are essential for maintaining peripheral immune tolerance to peanut proteins such as Ara h 1, Ara h 2, and Ara h 3. In individuals with peanut allergy, there is typically a deficiency in the number or suppressive function of these cells, allowing for a dominant Th2-mediated allergic response characterized by IgE production and mast cell activation (Source: Journal of Allergy and Clinical Immunology, 2020). These cells function by producing anti-inflammatory cytokines like IL-10 and TGF-β and expressing inhibitory markers such as CTLA-4 and GITR, which dampen the activation of effector T cells and innate immune cells (Source: Nature Reviews Immunology, 2018). While not a single molecule or receptor, these cells are the primary cellular target for induction in allergen-specific immunotherapies, including FDA-approved products like Palforzia (Source: FDA, 2020). Successful treatment is often marked by an increase in the frequency and suppressive capacity of these peanut-specific Tregs, leading to clinical desensitization. Monitoring these cells via flow cytometry or TCR sequencing provides critical insights into a patient's immunological shift from an allergic to a tolerant state (Source: Science Immunology, 2017).

Other names

Peanut-allergen-specific regulatory T cellAra h-specific regulatory T cellPeanut-reactive CD4+CD25+Foxp3+ T cellAllergen-specific Treg

Therapies like oral immunotherapy (OIT) aim to induce the expansion and activation of peanut-specific regulatory T cells, which suppress the activity of allergen-specific Th2 cells and effector cells like mast cells and basophils through the secretion of inhibitory cytokines (IL-10, TGF-β) and direct cell-to-cell contact.