Determinants of house dust mite allergenicity

Results: The studies summarized here show that quantitative measurements of allergen panels provide a better assessment of total anti-mite IgE than assays with mite extracts, and that major allergen Der p 1 induced correspondingly higher T helper cell type 2 (Th2) and Th1 cytokine responses than subordinate allergens Der p 5 and 7. The importance of the knowledge of variants of the major allergens is presented as well recent advances in the characterization of the molecules. Conclusions: Der p 1 and Der p 2 are major allergens of Dermatophagoides pteronyssinus. The minor allergens, however, constitute 50% of the IgE binding and the use of a panel of allergens provides a better measure of house dust mite allergy than IgE binding to extracts. The minor allergens will also be important for studying the immunoregulatory pathways that lead to high and low allergenicity.