Presence of commensal house dust mite allergen in human gastrointestinal tract: a potential contributor to intestinal barrier dysfunction

Abstract

HDM, a ubiquitous environmental factor, is present in the human gut where it directly affects gut function through its proteolytic activity. HDM may be an important trigger of gut dysfunction and warrants further investigation.

Constipation-Predominant Irritable Bowel Syndrome Females Have Normal Colonic Barrier and Secretory Function

“…An allergic background correlates with a more severe disease and diarrhea predominance with suggestive links with increased paracellular permeability [4]. Recently, house dust mite, a common environmental trigger was shown to increase FITC-sulfonic acid flux in a dose dependent manner across human colonic mucosa, decrease ZO-1 and occludin expression and caused damage to the TJ ultrastructure [30]. …”

Inflammatory cell distribution in colon mucosa as a new tool for diagnosis of irritable bowel syndrome: A promising pilot study

“…Increased count in left colon may be due to the presence of antigen normally absent in this segment. We have previously shown that house dust mite (HDM) antigens are found in the human gut and can stimulate inflammatory cells in vitro. Macrophages are recruited through Toll‐like receptor (TLR) activation, and HDM can stimulate TLR .…”

“…The hallmark of IBS is a breakdown of gut epithelial layer, resulting in increased gut permeability . On careful examination of gut histological sections, we have recently shown that even in healthy human gut, there are significant changes in tissue architecture and histology following exposure to ubiquitous environmental allergens . These changes may contribute to pathology in certain genetically or immuno‐compromised subjects.…”

House dust mite: a new player in intestinal inflammation?

“…As HDM is omnipresent in the modern environment, its antigens are likely to be ingested in considerable amounts, and may thus also be involved in intestinal inflammation. In this issue of Gut, Tulic et al 4 show that HDM allergen Der p1 can indeed be detected in the human intestine. The cysteine protease activity of Der p1resulted in increased epithelial permeability, which is also suggested as a pathophysiological factor in both UC and IBS.…”