title: Establishing an allergic eczema model employing recombinant house dust mite allergens Der p 1 and Der p 2 in BALB/c mice.
abstract: The major house dust mite allergens Der p 1 and Der p 2 are prevalent inducers of eczema. Der p 1 is a cysteine protease disrupting epithelial barriers, whereas Der p 2 functionally mimics the LPS-binding compound MD-2 within the TLR4 complex. In this work, we tested the percutaneous sensitizing capacity of recombinant (r) Der p 1 and Der p 2 in BALB/c mice. Mice were sensitized by percutaneous application of low (10 μg/application) and high dose (100 μg) rDer p 1 or rDer p 2, or with rDer p 1 followed by rDer p 2. Allergen-specific and total IgE antibodies were determined by ELISA. Eczema of BALB/c was classified by the itching score and corresponded to erosions. Infiltrating immune cells were identified by haematoxylin/eosin and Giemsa staining for eosinophils or mast cells, CD3 staining for T lymphocytes. Percutaneous treatments with rDer p 1, but not rDer p 2-induced specific IgG1. However, cotreatment with rDer p 1 led to increase in anti-Der p 2 IgG titres. Both allergens elicited skin erosions because of scratching, thickening of the epidermis, and eosinophil and T-cell infiltration. Our data indicate that recombinant mite allergens in the absence of adjuvant are sufficient for inducing eczema in BALB/c mice. As the enzymatic activity of an allergen might be an important cofactor for specific sensitization via the skin, Der p 1 may act as adjuvant for other allergens too. The presented mouse model is suitable for investigating the mechanisms of allergic eczema.
authors.affiliation: Comparative Medicine, Messerli Research Institute, University of Veterinary Medicine Vienna, Medical University Vienna, University Vienna, Vienna, Austria.
authors.forename: Krisztina
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Szalai
authors.forename: Tamara
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Kopp
authors.forename: Anna
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Lukschal
authors.forename: Caroline
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Stremnitzer
authors.forename: Julia
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Wallmann
authors.forename: Philipp
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Starkl
authors.forename: Luc
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Vander Elst
authors.forename: Jean-Marie
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Saint-Remy
authors.forename: Isabella
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Pali-Schöll
authors.forename: Erika
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Jensen-Jarolim
mesh_terms: D000485:Allergens / Q000009:adverse effects*; D000818:Animals; D039741:Antigens, Dermatophagoides / Q000009:adverse effects*; D060829:Arthropod Proteins / Q000009:adverse effects*; D003546:Cysteine Endopeptidases / Q000009:adverse effects*; D003876:Dermatitis, Atopic / Q000209:etiology* / Q000276:immunology / Q000473:pathology; D004195:Disease Models, Animal; D004804:Eosinophils / Q000473:pathology; D005260:Female; D007073:Immunoglobulin E / Q000097:blood; D007074:Immunoglobulin G / Q000097:blood; D008407:Mast Cells / Q000473:pathology; D051379:Mice; D008807:Mice, Inbred BALB C; D039981:Pyroglyphidae / Q000276:immunology*; D011994:Recombinant Proteins / Q000009:adverse effects; D013601:T-Lymphocytes / Q000473:pathology
chemical_list: D000485:Allergens; D039741:Antigens, Dermatophagoides; D060829:Arthropod Proteins; C451163:Dermatophagoides pteronyssinus antigen p 2; D007074:Immunoglobulin G; D011994:Recombinant Proteins; D007073:Immunoglobulin E; D003546:Cysteine Endopeptidases; C451162:Dermatophagoides pteronyssinus antigen p 1