Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Clinical significance of dust mite allergens

  • Review
  • Published:
Molecular Biology Reports Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Dust mites are an important cause of allergic diseases worldwide. The traces of Dermatophagoides farinae and Dermatophagoides pteronyssinus can be found all over the world, while Blomia tropicalis are more common allergenic mites in tropical areas. A variety of allergenic components in dust mites have been found, apart from the different positive rates of IgE reactions in dust mite allergic patients, their biological characteristics, effects on the innate immune system, and especially their distribution characteristics in patients are different. Studying the relationship between dust mite allergens and clinical significance will help for diagnosis of patients and formulation of corresponding Allergen Specific Immunotherapy.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  1. Voorhorst R, Spieksma-Boezeman M, Spieksma F (1964) Is a mite (Dermatophagoides Sp.) the producer of the house-dust allergen? Allergy Asthma 10:329–334

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  2. Tovey ER, Chapman MD, Platts-Mills TA (1981) Mite faeces are a major source of house dust allergens. Nature 289(5798):592–593

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  3. Fernández-Caldas E (1997) Mite species of allergologic importance in Europe. Allergy 52(4):383–387

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  4. Liu XY, Yang KY, Wang MQ, Kwok JS, Zeng X, Yang Z, Xiao XJ, Lau CP, Li Y, Huang ZM et al (2018) High-quality assembly of Dermatophagoides pteronyssinus genome and transcriptome reveals a wide range of novel allergens. J Allergy Clin Immunol 141(6):2268–2271.e2268

    Google Scholar 

  5. Curin M, Khaitov M, Karaulov A, Namazova-Baranova L, Campana R, Garib V, Valenta R (2018) Next-generation of allergen-specific immunotherapies: molecular approaches. Curr Allergy Asthma Rep 18(7):39

    PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  6. Yang L, Zhu R (2017) Immunotherapy of house dust mite allergy. Hum Vaccin Immunother 13(10):2390–2396

    PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  7. Mrkic I, Minic R, Popovic D, Zivkovic I, Gavrovic-Jankulovic M (2018) Newly designed hemagglutinin-Der p 2 chimera is a potential candidate for allergen specific immunotherapy. Life Sci 213:158–165

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  8. Chen KW, Blatt K, Thomas WR, Swoboda I, Valent P, Valenta R, Vrtala S (2012) Hypoallergenic Der p 1/Der p 2 combination vaccines for immunotherapy of house dust mite allergy. J Allergy Clin Immunol 130(2):435–443.e434

    Google Scholar 

  9. Hesse L, van Ieperen N, Habraken C, Petersen AH, Korn S, Smilda T, Goedewaagen B, Ruiters MH, van der Graaf AC, Nawijn MC (2018) Subcutaneous immunotherapy with purified Der p1 and 2 suppresses type 2 immunity in a murine asthma model. Allergy 73(4):862–874

    CAS  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  10. Green W, Woolcock AJ, Dowse G (1982) House dust mites in blankets and houses in the highlands of Papua New Guinea. P N G Med J 25(4):219–222

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  11. Sander I, Zahradnik E, Kraus G, Mayer S, Neumann HD, Fleischer C, Brüning T, Raulf-Heimsoth M (2012) Domestic mite antigens in floor and airborne dust at workplaces in comparison to living areas: a new immunoassay to assess personal airborne allergen exposure. PLoS ONE 7(12):e52981

    CAS  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  12. Tovey ER, Mahmic A, McDonald LG (1995) Clothing--an important source of mite allergen exposure. J Allergy Clin Immunol 96(6 Pt 1):999–1001

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  13. Murray AB, Ferguson AC, Morrison BJ (1985) Sensitization to house dust mites in different climatic areas. J Allergy Clin Immunol 76(1):108–112

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  14. Kaw Yan Chua NC, Kuo I-C, Lee BW, Yi FC, Huang C-H, Liew LN (2007) The Blomia tropicalis allergens. Protein Pept Lett 14(4):325–333. https://doi.org/10.2174/092986607780363862

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  15. Batard T, Baron-Bodo V, Martelet A, Le Mignon M, Lemoine P, Jain K, Mariano S, Horiot S, Chabre H, Harwanegg C et al (2016) Patterns of IgE sensitization in house dust mite-allergic patients: implications for allergen immunotherapy. Allergy 71(2):220–229

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  16. Carnes J, Iraola V, Cho SH, Esch RE (2017) Mite allergen extracts and clinical practice. Ann Allergy Asthma Immunol 118(3):249–256

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  17. Tovey ER, Chapman MD, Wells CW, Platts-Mills TA (1981) The distribution of dust mite allergen in the houses of patients with asthma. Am Rev Respir Dis 124(5):630–635

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  18. Schatz M, Rosenwasser L (2014) The allergic asthma phenotype. J Allergy Clin Immunol Pract 2(6):645–648; quiz 649

    Google Scholar 

  19. Jacquet A, Campisi V, Szpakowska M, Dumez ME, Galleni M, Chevigné A (2017) Profiling the extended cleavage specificity of the house dust mite protease allergens Der p 1, Der p 3 and Der p 6 for the prediction of new cell surface protein substrates. Int J Mol Sci 18(7)

  20. Huang FL, Liao EC, Yu SJ (2018) House dust mite allergy: its innate immune response and immunotherapy. Immunobiology 223(3):300–302

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  21. Wan H, Winton HL, Soeller C, Tovey ER, Gruenert DC, Thompson PJ, Stewart GA, Taylor GW, Garrod DR, Cannell MB et al (1999) Der p 1 facilitates transepithelial allergen delivery by disruption of tight junctions. J Clin Invest 104(1):123–133

    CAS  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  22. Asokananthan N, Graham PT, Stewart DJ, Bakker AJ, Eidne KA, Thompson PJ, Stewart GA (2002) House dust mite allergens induce proinflammatory cytokines from respiratory epithelial cells: the cysteine protease allergen, Der p 1, activates protease-activated receptor (PAR)-2 and inactivates PAR-1. J Immunol 169(8):4572–4578

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  23. Yin SC, Liao EC, Chiu CL, Chang CY, Tsai JJ (2015) Der p2 internalization by epithelium synergistically augments toll-like receptor-mediated Proinflammatory Signaling. Allergy Asthma Immunol Res 7(4):393–403

    CAS  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  24. Reginald K, Chew FT (2019) The major allergen Der p 2 is a cholesterol binding protein. Sci Rep 9(1):1556

    PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  25. Herman J, Thelen N, Smargiasso N, Mailleux AC, Luxen A, Cloes M, De Pauw E, Chevigné A, Galleni M, Dumez ME (2014) Der p 1 is the primary activator of Der p 3, Der p 6 and Der p 9 the proteolytic allergens produced by the house dust mite Dermatophagoides pteronyssinus. Biochim Biophys Acta 1840(3):1117–1124

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  26. Mueller GA, Edwards LL, Aloor JJ, Fessler MB, Glesner J, Pomés A, Chapman MD, London RE, Pedersen LC (2010) The structure of the dust mite allergen Der p 7 reveals similarities to innate immune proteins. J Allergy Clin Immunol 125(4):909–917.e904

    Google Scholar 

  27. Arlian LG, Morgan MS, Vyszenski-Moher DL, Sharra D (2009) Cross-reactivity between storage and dust mites and between mites and shrimp. Exp Appl Acarol 47(2):159–172

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  28. Banerjee S, Resch Y, Chen KW, Swoboda I, Focke-Tejkl M, Blatt K, Novak N, Wickman M, van Hage M, Ferrara R et al (2015) Der p 11 is a major allergen for house dust mite-allergic patients suffering from atopic dermatitis. J Invest Dermatol 135(1):102–109

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  29. Fernández-Caldas E (2013) On mite allergy in dogs and humans. Int Arch Allergy Immunol 160(4):329–330

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  30. Weghofer M, Grote M, Resch Y, Casset A, Kneidinger M, Kopec J, Thomas WR, Fernandez-Caldas E, Kabesch M, Ferrara R et al (2013) Identification of Der p 23, a peritrophin-like protein, as a new major Dermatophagoides pteronyssinus allergen associated with the peritrophic matrix of mite fecal pellets. J Immunol 190(7):3059–3067

    CAS  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  31. Matos Semedo F, Dorofeeva Y, Pires AP, Tomaz E, Taborda Barata L, Inacio F, Valenta R (2019) Der p 23: clinical relevance of molecular Monosensitization in house dust mite allergy. J Investig Allergol Clin Immunol 29(4):314–316

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  32. Múnera M, Martínez D, Labrada A, Caraballo L, Puerta L (2019) Identification of B cell epitopes of Blo t 13 allergen and cross-reactivity with human adipocytes and heart fatty acid binding proteins. Int J Mol Sci 20(24)

  33. Chua KY, Cheong N, Kuo IC, Lee BW, Yi FC, Huang CH, Liew LN (2007) The Blomia tropicalis allergens. Protein Pept Lett 14(4):325–333

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  34. Chapman MD, Platts-Mills TA (1980) Purification and characterization of the major allergen from Dermatophagoides pteronyssinus-antigen P1. J Immunol 125(2):587–592

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  35. Chua KY, Stewart GA, Thomas WR, Simpson RJ, Dilworth RJ, Plozza TM, Turner KJ (1988) Sequence analysis of cDNA coding for a major house dust mite allergen, Der p 1. Homology with cysteine proteases. J Exp Med 167(1):175–182

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  36. By Lucy Gough OS, Sewell HF, Shakib F (1999) The cysteine protease activity of the major dust mite allergen Der p 1. J Exp Med

  37. Luczynska C, Sterne J, Bond J, Azima H, Burney P (1998) Indoor factors associated with concentrations of house dust mite allergen, Der p 1, in a random sample of houses in Norwich, UK. Clin Exp Allergy 28(10):1201–1209

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  38. Marks GB, Tovey ER, Toelle BG, Wachinger S, Peat JK, Woolcock AJ (1995) Mite allergen (Der p 1) concentration in houses and its relation to the presence and severity of asthma in a population of Sydney schoolchildren. J Allergy Clin Immunol 96(4):441–448

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  39. Miranda DO, Silva DA, Fernandes JF, Queiros MG, Chiba HF, Ynoue LH, Resende RO, Pena JD, Sung SS, Segundo GR et al (2011) Serum and salivary IgE, IgA, and IgG4 antibodies to Dermatophagoides pteronyssinus and its major allergens, Der p1 and Der p2, in allergic and nonallergic children. Clin Dev Immunol 2011:302739

    PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  40. Mueller GA, Randall TA, Glesner J, Pedersen LC, Perera L, Edwards LL, DeRose EF, Chapman MD, London RE, Pomes A (2016) Serological, genomic and structural analyses of the major mite allergen Der p 23. Clin Exp Allergy 46(2):365–376

    CAS  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  41. Jalaludin B, Xuan W, Mahmic A, Peat J, Tovey E, Leeder S (1998) Association between Der p 1 concentration and peak expiratory flow rate in children with wheeze: a longitudinal analysis. J Allergy Clin Immunol 102(3):382–386

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  42. De Lucca S, Sporik R, O'Meara TJ, Tovey ER (1999) Mite allergen (Der p 1) is not only carried on mite feces. J Allergy Clin Immunol 103(1 Pt 1):174–175

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  43. Tulic MK, Vivinus-Nébot M, Rekima A, Rabelo Medeiros S, Bonnart C, Shi H, Walker A, Dainese R, Boyer J, Vergnolle N et al (2016) Presence of commensal house dust mite allergen in human gastrointestinal tract: a potential contributor to intestinal barrier dysfunction. Gut 65(5):757–766

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  44. Ghaemmaghami AM, Shakib F (2002) Human T cells that have been conditioned by the proteolytic activity of the major dust mite allergen Der p 1 trigger enhanced immunoglobulin E synthesis by B cells. Clin Exp Allergy 32(5):728–732

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  45. Schulz O, Sewell HF, Shakib F (1998) Proteolytic cleavage of CD25, the alpha subunit of the human T cell interleukin 2 receptor, by Der p 1, a major mite allergen with cysteine protease activity. J Exp Med 187(2):271–275

    CAS  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  46. Hewitt CR, Brown AP, Hart BJ, Pritchard DI (1995) A major house dust mite allergen disrupts the immunoglobulin E network by selectively cleaving CD23: innate protection by antiproteases. J Exp Med 182(5):1537–1544

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  47. Chua KY, Doyle CR, Simpson RJ, Turner KJ, Stewart GA, Thomas WR (1990) Isolation of cDNA coding for the major mite allergen Der p II by IgE plaque immunoassay. Int Arch Allergy Appl Immunol 91(2):118–123

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  48. Park GM, Lee SM, Lee IY, Ree HI, Kim KS, Hong CS, Yong TS (2000) Localization of a major allergen, Der p 2, in the gut and faecal pellets of Dermatophagoides pteronyssinus. Clin Exp Allergy 30(9):1293–1297

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  49. Heymann PW, Chapman MD, Aalberse RC, Fox JW, Platts-Mills TA (1989) Antigenic and structural analysis of group II allergens (Der f II and Der p II) from house dust mites (Dermatophagoides spp). J Allergy Clin Immunol 83(6):1055–1067

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  50. Gore RB, Hadi EA, Craven M, Smillie FI, O'Meara TJ, Tovey ER, Woodcock A, Custovic A (2002) Personal exposure to house dust mite allergen in bed: nasal air sampling and reservoir allergen levels. Clin Exp Allergy 32(6):856–859

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  51. Trombone AP, Tobias KR, Ferriani VP, Schuurman J, Aalberse RC, Smith AM, Chapman MD, Arruda LK (2002) Use of a chimeric ELISA to investigate immunoglobulin E antibody responses to Der p 1 and Der p 2 in mite-allergic patients with asthma, wheezing and/or rhinitis. Clin Exp Allergy 32(9):1323–1328

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  52. Hammad H, Chieppa M, Perros F, Willart MA, Germain RN, Lambrecht BN (2009) House dust mite allergen induces asthma via toll-like receptor 4 triggering of airway structural cells. Nat Med 15(4):410–416

    CAS  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  53. Liao EC, Hsieh CW, Chang CY, Yu SJ, Sheu ML, Wu SM, Tsai JJ (2015) Enhanced allergic inflammation of Der p 2 affected by polymorphisms of MD-2 promoter. Allergy, Asthma Immunol Res 7(5):497–506

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  54. Hales BJ, Hazell LA, Smith W, Thomas WR (2002) Genetic variation of Der p 2 allergens: effects on T cell responses and immunoglobulin E binding. Clin Exp Allergy 32(10):1461–1467

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  55. Zheng YW, Li J, Lai XX, Zhao DY, Liu XF, Lin XP, Gjesing B, Palazzo P, Mari A, Zhong NS et al (2011) Allergen micro-array detection of specific IgE-reactivity in Chinese allergy patients. Chin Med J 124(24):4350–4354

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  56. Trompette A, Divanovic S, Visintin A, Blanchard C, Hegde RS, Madan R, Thorne PS, Wills-Karp M, Gioannini TL, Weiss JP et al (2009) Allergenicity resulting from functional mimicry of a toll-like receptor complex protein. Nature 457(7229):585–588

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  57. Posa D, Perna S, Resch Y, Lupinek C, Panetta V, Hofmaier S, Rohrbach A, Hatzler L, Grabenhenrich L, Tsilochristou O et al (2017) Evolution and predictive value of IgE responses toward a comprehensive panel of house dust mite allergens during the first 2 decades of life. J Allergy Clin Immunol 139(2):541–549.e548

    Google Scholar 

  58. Celi G, Brusca I, Scala E, Villalta D, Pastorello E, Farioli L, Cortellini G, Deleonardi G, Galati P, Losappio L et al (2019) House dust mite allergy in Italy-diagnostic and clinical relevance of Der p 23 (and of minor allergens): a real-life, multicenter study. Allergy 74(9):1787–1789

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  59. Jimenez-Feijoo R, Pascal M, Moya R, Riggioni C, Dominguez O, Lozano J, Alvaro-Lozano M, Piquert M, Machinena A, Folque M et al (2019) Molecular diagnosis in house dust mite allergic patients suggests clinical relevance of Der p 23 in asthmatic children. J Investig Allergol Clin Immunol

  60. Huang HW, Lue KH, Wong RH, Sun HL, Sheu JN, Lu KH (2006) Distribution of allergens in children with different atopic disorders in Central Taiwan. Acta Paediatr Taiwan 47(3):127–134

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  61. Trakultivakorn M, Nuglor T (2002) Sensitization to Dermatophagoides pteronyssinus and Blomia tropicalis extracts and recombinant mite allergens in atopic Thai patients. Asian Pac J Allergy Immunol 20(4):217–221

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  62. Pires MC, Calux MJ, Mori JC, Montealegre F (2002) Reactivity of anti-Blomia tropicalis IgG and IgE in patients with atopic dermatitis. Clin Exp Dermatol 27(4):309–313

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  63. Kuo IC, Cheong N, Trakultivakorn M, Lee BW, Chua KY (2003) An extensive study of human IgE cross-reactivity of Blo t 5 and Der p 5. J Allergy Clin Immunol 111(3):603–609

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  64. Mercado D (2007) IgE antibody responses to recombinant allergens of Blomia tropicalis and Dermatophagoides pteronyssinus in a tropical environment. Allergy Clin Immunol Int J World Allergy Organ 19(6):233

    Google Scholar 

  65. Sidenius KE, Hallas TE, Poulsen LK, Mosbech H (2001) Allergen cross-reactivity between house-dust mites and other invertebrates. Allergy 56(8):723–733

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  66. Weghofer M, Thomas WR, Kronqvist M, Mari A, Purohit A, Pauli G, Horak F, Grönlund H, van Hage M, Valenta R et al (2008) Variability of IgE reactivity profiles among European mite allergic patients. Eur J Clin Investig 38(12):959–965

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  67. Asturias JA, Arilla MC, Gómez-Bayón N, Martínez A, Martínez J, Palacios R (1998) Sequencing and high level expression in Escherichia coli of the tropomyosin allergen (Der p 10) from Dermatophagoides pteronyssinus. Biochim Biophys Acta 1397(1):27–30

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  68. Pittner G, Vrtala S, Thomas WR, Weghofer M, Kundi M, Horak F, Kraft D, Valenta R (2004) Component-resolved diagnosis of house-dust mite allergy with purified natural and recombinant mite allergens. Clin Exp Allergy 34(4):597–603

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  69. Resch Y, Weghofer M, Seiberler S, Horak F, Scheiblhofer S, Linhart B, Swoboda I, Thomas WR, Thalhamer J, Valenta R et al (2011) Molecular characterization of Der p 10: a diagnostic marker for broad sensitization in house dust mite allergy. Clin Exp Allergy 41(10):1468–1477

    CAS  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  70. Zimmer J, Bonertz A, Vieths S (2017) Quality requirements for allergen extracts and allergoids for allergen immunotherapy. Allergol Immunopathol 45:4–11

    Google Scholar 

  71. Huang HJ, Curin M, Banerjee S, Chen KW, Garmatiuk T, Resch-Marat Y, Carvalho-Queiroz C, Blatt K, Gafvelin G, Grönlund H et al (2019) A hypoallergenic peptide mix containing T cell epitopes of the clinically relevant house dust mite allergens. Allergy 74(12):2461–2478

    CAS  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  72. Reginald K, Chew FT (2018) Conformational IgE epitope mapping of Der p 2 and the evaluations of two candidate Hypoallergens for immunotherapy. Sci Rep 8(1):3391

    PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  73. Olaguíbel JM, Tabar AI, García BE, Martín S, Rico P (1999) Long-term immunotherapy with an optimal maintenance dose of a standardized Dermatophagoides pteronyssinus extract in asthmatic patients. J Investig Allergol Clin Immunol 9(2):110–116

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

Download references

Acknowledgements

The author wish to thank other members of the same research group for their suggestions.

Funding

Professor Zhigang Liu was funded by National Natural Science Foundation of China (Nos. 31729002, U1801286 and 81971514) and Key Projects of Guangdong (China) Science and Technology Plan (No. 2017b0226006).

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Institute of Allergy and Immunology, Health Science Center, Shenzhen University, Shenzhen, 518060, People’s Republic of China

    Hui Cao & Zhigang Liu

Authors
  1. Hui Cao
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Zhigang Liu
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Contributions

HC wrote the manuscript and contributed to the final revision of the manuscript. ZL involved in the critical revision and approved the final version of the manuscript.

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Zhigang Liu.

Ethics declarations

Conflict of interest

Hui Cao declares that he has no conflict of interest. Zhigang Liu declares that he has no conflict of interest.

Ethical approval

This review does not contain any studies with human participants or animals performed by any of the authors.

Additional information

Publisher's Note

Springer Nature remains neutral with regard to jurisdictional claims in published maps and institutional affiliations.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Check for updates. Verify currency and authenticity via CrossMark

Cite this article

Cao, H., Liu, Z. Clinical significance of dust mite allergens. Mol Biol Rep 47, 6239–6246 (2020). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11033-020-05613-1

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11033-020-05613-1

Keywords

Search

Navigation