T-cell receptor (TCR) recognizing Alnus rubra pollen-derived peptides (TCR (Alnus rubra))

The T-cell receptor (TCR) recognizing Alnus rubra pollen-derived peptides is a specialized protein complex on the surface of T lymphocytes that mediates the immune response to Red Alder pollen allergens (WHO/IUIS Allergen Nomenclature). These TCRs specifically recognize peptides derived from allergens such as Aln g 1, the major allergen of Alnus rubra, when they are presented by Major Histocompatibility Complex (MHC) class II molecules on antigen-presenting cells (Bohle, B., Allergy, 2007). This recognition is a critical step in the pathogenesis of Type I hypersensitivity, leading to the activation of Th2 cells and the subsequent release of cytokines like IL-4 and IL-13, which stimulate IgE production (Akdis, M., & Akdis, C. A., JACI, 2014). In therapeutic contexts, this TCR-MHC-peptide complex is the primary focus of allergen immunotherapy (AIT), which aims to modify the T-cell response (Larche, M., Nature Reviews Immunology, 2006). By providing controlled exposure to Alnus rubra extracts, AIT induces a shift from a Th2-dominated response to one characterized by T-regulatory (Treg) cells and the production of IgG4, thereby providing long-term relief from allergic rhinitis and asthma (Jutel, M., Allergy, 2011). The specificity of the TCR for Alnus rubra peptides ensures that the treatment is targeted, though cross-reactivity with other Betulaceae pollens like birch is common due to structural similarities in the allergens (Vieths, S., et al., Annals of the New York Academy of Sciences, 2002).

Other names

Alnus rubra-specific T-cell receptorAln g 1-specific TCRRed alder pollen TCRT-cell receptor recognizing Alnus rubra pollen-derived peptides presented on MHC molecules

Induction of immune tolerance and T-regulatory cell differentiation through controlled antigen presentation to specific T-cell receptors.