Comparison of purified Dermatophagoides pteronyssinus allergens and extract by two-dimensional immunoblotting and quantitative immunoglobulin E inhibitions.
BACKGROUND
The allergens of the house dust mite (Dermatophagoides pteronyssinus, Der p), one of the most important indoor allergen sources, occur as isoallergens that differ in their amino acid sequence. These variations may influence allergenic activity and thus may have impact on diagnostic tests and specific immunotherapy.


OBJECTIVE
We investigated whether single purified recombinant mite allergens contain the IgE epitopes of the natural Der p isoallergens.


METHODS
A panel of purified recombinant (rDer p 2, 5, 7, 8, 10 and 14) and two natural (nDer p 1 and 4) mite allergens were used to establish IgE reactivity profiles of Der p allergic patients and to inhibit IgE reactivity to two-dimensionally separated Der p isoallergens. In addition, we determined the percentage of Der p extract-specific IgE which could be preadsorbed with a mixture of purified mite allergens (nDer p 1, rDer p 2, 5, 7, 8 and 10) from sera of mite-allergic patients (n=18) in a non-denaturing RAST-based inhibition.


RESULTS
We demonstrate that single recombinant mite allergens inhibit IgE reactivity to the corresponding natural isoallergens. A mixture of purified mite allergens (nDer p 1, rDer p 2, 5, 7, 8 and 10) bound on an average 76% of Der p-specific IgE antibodies.


CONCLUSIONS
The studied recombinant and natural mite allergens contain a large portion of Der p-specific IgE and may be used for diagnostic tests and therapy of Der p allergy.
Weghofer
M
M
Division of Immunopathology, Department of Pathophysiology, Center for Physiology and Pathophysiology, Medical University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria.
Thomas
W R
WR
Pittner
G
G
Horak
F
F
Valenta
R
R
Vrtala
S
S
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000485:Allergens / Q000276:immunology*; D000818:Animals; D039741:Antigens, Dermatophagoides / Q000276:immunology* / Q000378:metabolism; D060829:Arthropod Proteins; D001667:Binding, Competitive; D002648:Child; D040002:Dermatophagoides pteronyssinus / Q000276:immunology*; D004391:Dust / Q000276:immunology; D000939:Epitopes / Q000276:immunology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D006967:Hypersensitivity / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000276:immunology*; D015151:Immunoblotting / Q000379:methods; D007073:Immunoglobulin E / Q000378:metabolism*; D008297:Male; D008925:Mites / Q000276:immunology; D011994:Recombinant Proteins / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism
D000485:Allergens; D039741:Antigens, Dermatophagoides; D060829:Arthropod Proteins; C451163:Dermatophagoides pteronyssinus antigen p 2; D004391:Dust; D000939:Epitopes; D011994:Recombinant Proteins; D007073:Immunoglobulin E