OCCURRENCE OF IGE ANTIBODIES AGAINST THE 39-KDA ALLERGEN COMPONENT OFTHE MITE LEPIDOGLYPHUS-DESTRUCTOR IN URBAN AND RURAL SUBJECTS

Several species of storage mite have been shown to cause IgE-mediated sensitization. Monoclonal antibodies (mabs) have been raised against t he storage mite Lepidoglyphus destructor, and one mab (42B6) immunopre cipitated a band of 39 kDa of L. destructor. To search for the frequen cy of IgE antibodies in patient sera against this allergen component, we modified a radioimmunoassay (RIA), 42B6 being used as capturing ant ibody. Twenty of 43 sera from farmers who were RAST positive to L. des tructor (46.5%) were scored as positive in this assay. There was a mod erate degree of correlation between positive RAST results to L. destru ctor and the 39-kDa allergen. Among 14 sera from Stockholm residents p ositive in RAST to both Dermatophagoides pteronyssinus and L. destruct or, six detected the 39-kDa allergen component. However, three sera fr om urban subjects lacking IgE antibodies against both mite species als o had IgE antibodies against the 39-kDa allergen. The present study de monstrates that the 39-kDa allergen of L. destructor is an important a llergen, and that rural as well as urban subjects can become sensitize d.