Th2-polarized immune response and regulatory T cell pathways

The Th2-polarized immune response and regulatory T cell (Treg) pathways constitute a fundamental immunological axis that determines the body's reaction to allergens. A Th2-polarized state is characterized by the activation of the transcription factor GATA3 and the secretion of cytokines such as IL-4, IL-5, and IL-13, which drive IgE-mediated allergic inflammation. Conversely, Treg pathways, characterized by the transcription factor FOXP3, serve to maintain immune homeostasis and induce tolerance by suppressing excessive Th2 activity (Garcés-Rimón et al., 2016, PubMed: 27501844). Enzymatically hydrolyzed egg white (EHEW) is a functional food ingredient containing bioactive peptides that act as immunomodulators to shift this balance toward tolerance, making it a therapeutic candidate for managing egg allergies (Lozano-Ojalvo et al., 2016, PubMed: 26857538). Although the provided name refers to a complex biological process and an intervention rather than a single molecular target, the individual components of these pathways, such as the transcription factors GATA3 and FOXP3, are the actual molecular targets for therapeutic intervention. Understanding this pathway is crucial for developing strategies to treat atopic diseases and food hypersensitivity.

Other names

Th2/Treg axisTh2/Treg balanceEgg white hydrolysate-mediated immune modulation

Enzymatically hydrolyzed egg white (EHEW) modulates the immune system by providing bioactive peptides that promote the differentiation of FOXP3+ regulatory T cells (Tregs) and suppress the GATA3-mediated Th2 response, thereby reducing the production of pro-allergic cytokines like IL-4 and IL-13 and increasing the production of regulatory cytokines like IL-10 (Garcés-Rimón et al., 2016, PubMed: 27501844).