Pectate lyase Jun a 1 (Jun a 1) (Jun a 1)

Mountain Cedar pollen allergen, primarily represented by the major allergen Pectate lyase Jun a 1, is a protein derived from the pollen of the Juniperus ashei tree (UniProt: P43213). Biologically, Jun a 1 functions as an enzyme that degrades pectin in plant cell walls, a process essential for pollen tube growth during fertilization (PubMed: 8264037). In humans, it is the primary driver of "cedar fever," a severe seasonal allergic rhinitis prevalent in the south-central United States (NIH: PMC4324099). The allergen acts by cross-linking IgE antibodies on the surface of mast cells and basophils, leading to the release of histamine and other inflammatory mediators. Therapeutic strategies include allergen-specific immunotherapy (AIT), which uses standardized Mountain Cedar extracts to induce immunological tolerance (PubMed: 10910987). This treatment aims to modulate the immune system by promoting the development of regulatory T cells and the production of IgG4 blocking antibodies, thereby reducing the allergic response upon subsequent environmental exposure.

Other names

Mountain Cedar pollen allergenJuniperus ashei allergen 1Jun a 1.0101Cedar pollen allergenCedar fever allergen

Induction of immune tolerance through regulatory T cell activation and production of IgG4 blocking antibodies