title: Characterization of arginine kinase, anovel allergen of dermatophagoides farinae (Der f 20).
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To characterize a novel allergen, the Dermatophagoides farinae-derived arginine kinase (Der f 20).
  
  
  METHODS
  The protein of Der f 20 was synthesized by genetic engineering approaches. The allergenicity of Der f 20 was tested by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay and an airway allergy mouse model.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The Der f 20 gene was cloned andpresented in the Gene Bank with an accession number of AAP57094. The Der f 20 is an arginine kinase (AK), whichshowed a close relationship with D. pteronyssinus AK and Aleuroglyphusovatus AK. Western-blot and ELISA studies showed the IgE binding capacity of Der f 20 was 66.7% in the sera from 6 dust mite allergic patients. Immune inhibition assayresults showed the IgE cross-reactivity between Der f 20 and DME (Dust mite extract). Positive responses to Der f 20 were 41.2% as shown by skin prick tests in 17 DME-allergic patients. In vitro experimental results showed that Der f 20 induced Th2 cell differentiation and the expression of T cell Ig mucin domain molecule-4 (TIM4) in DCs. Conclusions; The Der f 20 protein is a novel subtype of thedust mite allergen.
authors.affiliation: Otolaryngology Institutes, Allergy and Immunology Research Center, Shenzhen UniversityShenzhen 518060, China; The State Key Laboratory of Respiratory Disease for Allergy at Shenzhen University, Shenzhen University School of Medicine3688 Nanhai Blvd., Shenzhen 518060, China.
authors.forename: Peng
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Xing
authors.affiliation: The State Key Laboratory of Respiratory Disease for Allergy at Shenzhen University, Shenzhen University School of Medicine 3688 Nanhai Blvd., Shenzhen 518060, China.
authors.forename: Haiqiong
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Yu
authors.affiliation: The State Key Laboratory of Respiratory Disease for Allergy at Shenzhen University, Shenzhen University School of Medicine 3688 Nanhai Blvd., Shenzhen 518060, China.
authors.forename: Meng
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Li
authors.affiliation: The State Key Laboratory of Respiratory Disease for Allergy at Shenzhen University, Shenzhen University School of Medicine 3688 Nanhai Blvd., Shenzhen 518060, China.
authors.forename: Xiaojun
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Xiao
authors.affiliation: The State Key Laboratory of Respiratory Disease for Allergy at Shenzhen University, Shenzhen University School of Medicine 3688 Nanhai Blvd., Shenzhen 518060, China.
authors.forename: Congli
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Jiang
authors.affiliation: The State Key Laboratory of Respiratory Disease for Allergy at Shenzhen University, Shenzhen University School of Medicine 3688 Nanhai Blvd., Shenzhen 518060, China.
authors.forename: Lihua
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Mo
authors.affiliation: First Affiliated Hospital of Shenzhen University, Shenzhen Second Peopl's Hospital Shenzhen, Guangdong 518035, China.
authors.forename: Min
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Zhang
authors.affiliation: Otolaryngology Institutes, Allergy and Immunology Research Center, Shenzhen UniversityShenzhen 518060, China; The State Key Laboratory of Respiratory Disease for Allergy at Shenzhen University, Shenzhen University School of Medicine3688 Nanhai Blvd., Shenzhen 518060, China.
authors.forename: Pingchang
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Yang
authors.affiliation: Otolaryngology Institutes, Allergy and Immunology Research Center, Shenzhen UniversityShenzhen 518060, China; The State Key Laboratory of Respiratory Disease for Allergy at Shenzhen University, Shenzhen University School of Medicine3688 Nanhai Blvd., Shenzhen 518060, China.
authors.forename: Zhigang
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Liu
keywords: Arginine kinase; Der f 20; allergy; dermatophagoidesfarinae; prokaryotic expression