Regulatory T-lymphocyte (Treg) specific for Dactylis glomerata pollen T-cell epitope (D. glomerata-specific Treg)

Regulatory T-lymphocytes (Tregs) specific for Dactylis glomerata (Orchard grass) pollen T-cell epitopes are a specialized subset of T cells that play a critical role in maintaining immune tolerance to common environmental allergens (Akdis & Akdis, 2014). In individuals with allergic rhinitis or asthma, the immune system incorrectly identifies Dactylis glomerata pollen proteins, such as Dac g 1 and Dac g 5, as threats, leading to a Th2-biased inflammatory response (UniProt, 2023). These specific Tregs function to suppress this overactive immune response by producing anti-inflammatory cytokines like IL-10 and TGF-beta, which inhibit the activation of mast cells, eosinophils, and IgE-producing B cells (Shamji & Durham, 2017). Therapeutic interventions, particularly allergen immunotherapy (AIT), aim to induce and expand this specific Treg population to restore long-term clinical tolerance (StatPearls, 2023). By targeting the expansion of these cells, clinicians can reduce the severity of allergic symptoms and potentially modify the underlying course of the disease. This cellular target is unique because it represents a functional immune state rather than a single protein, requiring precise antigen recognition for activation.

Other names

Orchard grass pollen-specific regulatory T cellCocksfoot-specific regulatory T cellDac g-specific regulatory T-lymphocyteAntigen-specific regulatory T cell

Induction and expansion of allergen-specific regulatory T cells that suppress Th2-mediated allergic inflammation through the secretion of inhibitory cytokines such as IL-10 and TGF-beta, and through direct suppressive interactions with effector cells.