House dust mite allergens in asthma and allergy.
IgE antibodies in house dust mite (HDM) allergy follow a predictable pattern. Half are directed against two dominant allergens and the remainder largely against four midpotency allergens. This hierarchical pattern is not changed by the titre of the IgE response or severity of disease. The structures of these allergens are known and they can be produced as authentic recombinant allergens. There is also evidence that the allergenicity is augmented by the biological activity of the key allergens, validating them as targets for vaccination. Collectively, these developments should facilitate the development of new diagnostics, improve immunotherapy and allow vaccination with defined reagents. Highly purified recombinant polypeptides representing the important mite allergens are now available so that informative and reproducible experiments can be performed with mite allergens in place of poorly defined and variable extracts.
Thomas
Wayne R
WR
Centre for Child Health Research, University of Western Australia, Telethon Institute for Child Health Research, Subiaco, Western Australia 6008, Australia. wayne@ichr.uwa.edu.au
Hales
Belinda J
BJ
Smith
Wendy-Anne
WA
D000818:Animals; D039741:Antigens, Dermatophagoides / Q000737:chemistry / Q000276:immunology*; D001249:Asthma / Q000276:immunology*; D003429:Cross Reactions / Q000276:immunology; D005843:Geography; D007113:Immunity, Innate / Q000276:immunology; D039981:Pyroglyphidae / Q000737:chemistry / Q000276:immunology*; D011994:Recombinant Proteins / Q000096:biosynthesis
D039741:Antigens, Dermatophagoides; D011994:Recombinant Proteins