[Research on dust mite allergen gathered from filters of air-conditioners].
OBJECTIVE
To discuss the relation between the dust mite allergen (Der) in air-conditioner filters and the asthma attack.


METHODS
The dust samples were collected from the filters of air-conditioners in dining rooms, shopping malls, hotels and households, respectively. The concentrations of Der f 1 and Der p1 were detected by ELISA, and the dust mite immune activities were determined by dot-ELISA.


RESULTS
The concentrations of Der f 1 in the dining rooms, shopping malls, hotels and households were 1.52, 1.24, 1.31 µg/g and 1.46 µg/g respectively, and the concentrations of Der p 1 were 1.23, 1.12, 1.16 µg/ g and 1.18 µg, respectively. One hour after the running of air-conditioners, the concentrations of Der f 1 and Der p 1 in the air were higher than those before the running of air-conditioners, and the differences were significant (P < 0.05). Additionally, the dot-ELISA results revealed that the allergen extracted from the dust was capable of reacting with IgE from the sera of asthma mice allergic to dust mites.


CONCLUSIONS
Der f 1 and Der p 1 appear abundantly in the filters of air-conditioners in domestic houses in Wuhu City, and the allergens can induce asthma.
Xiao-dong
XD
Zhan
Hua
H
Wu
Hui-min
HM
Hu
Chao-pin
CP
Li
D000389:Air Conditioning / Q000295:instrumentation*; D061808:Air Filters / Q000469:parasitology*; D016902:Air Pollution, Indoor / Q000032:analysis*; D000485:Allergens / Q000032:analysis* / Q000276:immunology; D000818:Animals; D039741:Antigens, Dermatophagoides / Q000032:analysis* / Q000276:immunology*; D060829:Arthropod Proteins / Q000032:analysis* / Q000276:immunology*; D001249:Asthma / Q000276:immunology* / Q000469:parasitology; D003546:Cysteine Endopeptidases / Q000032:analysis* / Q000276:immunology*; D006798:Housing; D006801:Humans; D051379:Mice; D008807:Mice, Inbred BALB C; D039981:Pyroglyphidae / Q000737:chemistry / Q000276:immunology*
D000485:Allergens; D039741:Antigens, Dermatophagoides; D060829:Arthropod Proteins; D003546:Cysteine Endopeptidases; C451159:Dermatophagoides farinae antigen f 1; C451162:Dermatophagoides pteronyssinus antigen p 1