IgE recognition of the house dust mite allergen Der p 37 is associated with asthma
Huey‐Jy Huang, Yvonne Resch, A. Casset, Margit Weghofer, Petra Zieglmayer, René Zieglmayer, Patrick Lemell, Friedrich Horak, Kuan‐Wei Chen, Ekaterina Potapova, Paolo Maria Matricardi, Gabrielle Pauli, Monika Grote, Rudolf Valenta, Susanne Vrtala
Abstract
BACKGROUND: House dust mite (HDM) allergens are major elicitors of allergic reactions worldwide. OBJECTIVE: Identification, characterization, and evaluation of diagnostic utility of a new important HDM allergen was performed. METHODS: T-cell responses by carboxyfluorescein diacetate succinimidyl ester dilution assays. Specific antibodies raised against rDer p 37 were used for the ultrastructural localization of Der p 37 in mites by immunogold transmission electron microscopy. RESULTS: T-cell activation. Der p 37 IgE-positive patients had significantly higher IgE levels to major HDM allergens, reacted with more HDM allergens, and had a higher risk (odds ratio = 3.1) of asthma compared to Der p 37-negative patients. CONCLUSIONS: Der p 37, a new Dp allergen recognized by a third of HDM-allergic patients, may serve as a surrogate marker for severe HDM sensitization and asthma.