Rye pollen allergen extract (Secale cereale)

Rye pollen allergen extract, derived from the pollen of Secale cereale (cereal rye), is a complex biological mixture of proteins used for the diagnosis and treatment of Type I hypersensitivity. The extract contains several potent allergens, most notably Sec c 1 (a beta-expansin) and Sec c 5 (a ribonuclease), which are recognized by the immune system of sensitized individuals to trigger inflammatory cascades [1][4]. In clinical practice, it is a cornerstone of allergen-specific immunotherapy (AIT), where it is administered in gradually increasing doses to desensitize patients suffering from grass-induced allergic rhinitis, conjunctivitis, or asthma [2][5]. This therapeutic approach aims to modify the underlying disease by inducing peripheral T-cell tolerance and promoting the production of protective IgG4 antibodies that compete with IgE for allergen binding [3]. While highly effective for long-term symptom reduction and preventing the progression of allergic disease, the extract's use requires careful monitoring due to the risk of severe systemic allergic reactions, including life-threatening anaphylaxis [5].

Other names

Secale cereale pollen extractCereal rye pollen extractRye grass pollen extractRye pollen

Allergen-specific immunotherapy (AIT) involves the repeated administration of specific allergens to induce clinical and immunological tolerance. This process shifts the immune response from a Th2-dominated profile to a Th1-dominated profile, increases the production of regulatory T cells (Tregs) that secrete IL-10 and TGF-beta, and stimulates the secretion of allergen-specific IgG4 antibodies which act as blocking antibodies to prevent IgE-mediated mast cell and basophil degranulation [1][2][3].