Establishing an allergic eczema model employing recombinant house dust mite allergens Der p 1 and Der p 2 in BALB/c mice.

Abstract

The major house dust mite allergens Der p 1 and Der p 2 are prevalent inducers of eczema. Der p 1 is a cysteine protease disrupting epithelial barriers, whereas Der p 2 functionally mimics the LPS-binding compound MD-2 within the TLR4 complex. In this work, we tested the percutaneous sensitizing capacity of recombinant (r) Der p 1 and Der p 2 in BALB/c mice. Mice were sensitized by percutaneous application of low (10 μg/application) and high dose (100 μg) rDer p 1 or rDer p 2, or with rDer p 1 followed by rDer p 2. Allergen-specific and total IgE antibodies were determined by ELISA. Eczema of BALB/c was classified by the itching score and corresponded to erosions. Infiltrating immune cells were identified by haematoxylin/eosin and Giemsa staining for eosinophils or mast cells, CD3 staining for T lymphocytes. Percutaneous treatments with rDer p 1, but not rDer p 2-induced specific IgG1. However, cotreatment with rDer p 1 led to increase in anti-Der p 2 IgG titres. Both allergens elicited skin erosions because of scratching, thickening of the epidermis, and eosinophil and T-cell infiltration. Our data indicate that recombinant mite allergens in the absence of adjuvant are sufficient for inducing eczema in BALB/c mice. As the enzymatic activity of an allergen might be an important cofactor for specific sensitization via the skin, Der p 1 may act as adjuvant for other allergens too. The presented mouse model is suitable for investigating the mechanisms of allergic eczema.

• Authors: Krisztina Szalai, Tamara Kopp, Anna Lukschal, Caroline Stremnitzer, Julia Wallmann, Philipp Starkl, Luc Vander Elst, Jean-Marie Saint-Remy, Isabella Pali-Schöll, Erika Jensen-Jarolim
• Journal: Experimental dermatology (Exp Dermatol) Vol. 21 Issue 11 Pg. 842-6 (Nov 2012) ISSN: 1600-0625 [Electronic] Denmark
• PMID: 23163649 (Publication Type: Journal Article, Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't)
• Copyright: © 2012 John Wiley & Sons A/S.

Chemical References

• Allergens
• Antigens, Dermatophagoides
• Arthropod Proteins
• Dermatophagoides pteronyssinus antigen p 2
• Immunoglobulin G
• Recombinant Proteins
• Immunoglobulin E
• Cysteine Endopeptidases
• Dermatophagoides pteronyssinus antigen p 1

Topics

• Allergens (adverse effects)
• Animals
• Antigens, Dermatophagoides (adverse effects)
• Arthropod Proteins (adverse effects)
• Cysteine Endopeptidases (adverse effects)
• Dermatitis, Atopic (etiology, immunology, pathology)
• Disease Models, Animal
• Eosinophils (pathology)
• Female
• Immunoglobulin E (blood)
• Immunoglobulin G (blood)
• Mast Cells (pathology)
• Mice
• Mice, Inbred BALB C
• Pyroglyphidae (immunology)
• Recombinant Proteins (adverse effects)
• T-Lymphocytes (pathology)