title: It is time to beelieve the CD1a hype!
abstract: Conventional T cells have historically been linked to exacerbating allergy. By efficiently generating primarily TH 2 cells, allergens skew the immune response to produce IL-4, IL-13, and IgE. Previously, CD1a-responsive T cells were shown to functionally respond to bee and wasp venom allergens. In this issue of the European Journal of Immunology, Subramaniam et al. [Eur. J. Immunol. 2016. 46: 242-252] show that more functionally active CD1a-restricted cells are present in bee venom-allergic patients than in healthy patients. Additionally, the authors show that these cells are not as frequently found in individuals receiving venom immunotherapy. Consequently, this study implicates CD1a-reactive cells as the primary responders to venom allergy, which considerably regulate the downstream immune response.
authors.affiliation: Department of Immunology and Microbiology, University of Colorado Anschutz Medical, Campus, Aurora, CO, USA.
authors.forename: Sai Harsha
authors.initials: SH
authors.lastname: Krovi
authors.affiliation: Department of Immunology and Microbiology, University of Colorado Anschutz Medical, Campus, Aurora, CO, USA.
authors.forename: Laurent
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Gapin
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001514:Bee Venoms / Q000276:immunology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D006967:Hypersensitivity / Q000276:immunology*; D008297:Male; D013601:T-Lymphocytes / Q000276:immunology*; D014862:Wasp Venoms / Q000276:immunology*
chemical_list: D001514:Bee Venoms; D014862:Wasp Venoms
keywords: CD1a; Immunotherapy; T cell; Venom allergy