Pollen allergen Fes p 4 (Fes p 4)

Pollen allergen Fes p 4 is a major allergenic protein derived from Festuca pratensis (Meadow fescue), a perennial grass common in temperate regions. It belongs to the Group 4 grass pollen allergens, which are biochemically characterized as berberine bridge enzyme-like (BBE-like) proteins, a family of flavin-dependent oxidoreductases involved in plant secondary metabolism and defense. Fes p 4 is a glycoprotein with a molecular mass of approximately 60 kDa and is recognized by IgE antibodies in a high percentage of grass-pollen-allergic individuals, contributing to symptoms of allergic rhinitis, conjunctivitis, and asthma. In the context of clinical medicine, Fes p 4 is a target for allergen-specific immunotherapy (AIT), where controlled exposure to the allergen aims to desensitize the immune system and induce long-term tolerance. It exhibits significant cross-reactivity with homologous Group 4 allergens from other Poaceae species, such as Phl p 4 from Timothy grass, which is a critical consideration for both diagnostic profiling and the formulation of therapeutic extracts.

Other names

Meadow fescue group 4 allergenFestuca pratensis allergen 4Berberine bridge enzyme-like protein Fes p 4

Allergen-specific immunotherapy (AIT) induces immune tolerance by shifting the immune response from a Th2-mediated allergic profile to a Th1/Treg-mediated profile, increasing the production of allergen-specific IgG4 blocking antibodies that prevent IgE-mediated mast cell degranulation.