Purification of Group 2 Dermatophagoides pteronyssinus Allergen and Prevalence of Its Specific IgE in Asthmatics

• Published in: International archives of allergy and immunology Vol. 121; no. 3; pp. 205 - 210
• Main Authors: Tsai, Jaw-Ji, Shen, Horng-Der, Chua, Kaw-Yan
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Basel, Switzerland Karger 01.03.2000; S. Karger AG
• Subjects: Adolescent; Adult; Allergens - immunology; Allergens - isolation & purification; Allergens - metabolism; Allergic diseases; Antibodies, Monoclonal - biosynthesis; Antibodies, Monoclonal - chemistry; Antibody Specificity; Antigens, Dermatophagoides; Asthma - epidemiology; Asthma - immunology; Biological and medical sciences; Child; Dermatophagoides pteronyssinus; Female; Glycoproteins - immunology; Glycoproteins - isolation & purification; Glycoproteins - metabolism; Humans; Immunoglobulin E - blood; Immunoglobulin E - metabolism; Immunopathology; Male; Medical sciences; Original Paper; Prevalence; Pyroglyphidae; Respiratory and ent allergic diseases; Singapore - epidemiology; Asia; Taiwan; Singapore; Der p 2; Bronchial asthma; Dermatophagoides pteronyssinus; Human; Prevalence; Respiratory disease; Acaridida; Epidemiology; Asthma; Acariformes; Arachnida; Acari; Arthropoda; Pyroglyphidae; Obstructive pulmonary disease; Invertebrata; Allergen
• ISSN: 1018-2438; 1423-0097
• DOI: 10.1159/000024318

Group 2 allergens are a major cause of sensitization in patients allergic to house dust mites. This study was performed to determine the prevalence of hypersensitivity to group 2 allergens (Der p 2) of Dermatophagoides pteronyssinus (Dp) in asthmatic patients in Taiwan. To facilitate the analysis of Der p 2-specific IgE, we raised a panel of monoclonal antibodies (MoAbs) to Der p 2 antigens. Purified Der p 2 was obtained after MoAb affinity column purification. There were 82 asthmatic patients (41 adults and 41 children) with hypersensitivity to Dp who were analyzed for hypersensitivity to Der p 2. All of them were both skin test- and serology test-reactive to Dp. Using purified Der p 2, 87.8% (72/82) of patients had a skin-test-positive reaction. Six adults (6/41) and 4 children (4/41) had negative skin tests for Der p 2. Ten families (both parents and children were asthmatics) of the 82 patients were selected for Der p 2 skin testing and Der p 2-specific IgE determination using immunoblot analysis. Results showed that 90% (18/20) of patients’ skin reactions to Der p 2 and serum contained specific IgE to Der p 2. Because 87.8% (85.4% of adults and 90.2% of children) of the asthmatic patients with Dp hypersensitivity were allergic to Der p 2, its role in the pathogenesis of asthma in Taiwan appears to be important. Purified Der p 2 allergens can be further used for allergen skin testing and immunotherapy.