Orchestrating house dust mite-associated allergy in the lung

Abstract

House dust mites (HDM; Dermatophagoides sp.) are one of the commonest aeroallergens worldwide and up to 85% of asthmatics are typically HDM allergic. Allergenicity is associated both with the mites themselves and with ligands derived from mite-associated bacterial and fungal products. Murine models of allergic airways disease for asthma research have recently switched from the use of surrogate allergen ovalbumin together with adjuvant to use of the HDM extract. This has accelerated understanding of how adaptive and innate immunity generate downstream pathology. We review the myriad ways in which HDM allergic responses are orchestrated. Understanding the molecular pathways that elicit HDM-associated pathology is likely to reveal novel targets for therapeutic intervention.

AMCase is a crucial regulator of type 2 immune responses to inhaled house dust mites

“…These mice have no overt developmental or phenotypic defects and are born at normal Mendelian ratios. To induce type 2 immune responses, we decided to use HDM because, as one of the common allergens, HDM is a very pathologically relevant agent (1). First, we wanted to determine the levels of chitin in HDM (Greer Laboratories).…”

“…It is well known that HDM instructs a type 2 immune response via the release of innate pro-Th2 cytokines including TSLP, IL-25, and IL-33 (1,3,26). Indeed, a recent report that showed that IL-33, but not TSLP or IL-25, is central to mite and peanut allergic sensitization led us to focus on IL-33 (27).…”

“…disease characterized by chronic airway inflammation (1)(2)(3). It is well established that immune responses to inhaled allergens like house dust mite (HDM), cockroach, and animal dander provide much of the underlying basis of asthma pathogenesis such as eosinophilic inflammation of the airway, goblet cell metaplasia, and bronchial hyperreactivity (1)(2)(3)(4)(5).…”

“…It is well established that immune responses to inhaled allergens like house dust mite (HDM), cockroach, and animal dander provide much of the underlying basis of asthma pathogenesis such as eosinophilic inflammation of the airway, goblet cell metaplasia, and bronchial hyperreactivity (1)(2)(3)(4)(5). HDM is one of the commonest allergens, and up to 85% of asthmatics are known to be typically HDM-allergic (1).…”

“…HDM is one of the commonest allergens, and up to 85% of asthmatics are known to be typically HDM-allergic (1). The allergic potential of HDM relies on the mites themselves and their fecal pellets (1).…”