Purification of group 2 Dermatophagoides pteronyssinus allergen and prevalence of its specific IgE in asthmatics

Group 2 allergens are a major cause of sensitization in patients allergic t o house dust mites. This study was performed to determine the prevalence of hypersensitivity to group 2 allergens (Der p 2) of Dermatophagoides pteron yssinus(Dp) in asthmatic patients in Taiwan, To facilitate the analysis of Der p 2-specific IgE, we raised a panel of monoclonal antibodies (MoAbs) to Der p 2 antigens. Purified Der p 2 was obtained after MoAb affinity column purification. There were 82 asthmatic patients (41 adults and 41 children) with hypersensitivity to Dp who were analyzed for hypersensitivity to Der p 2. All of them were both skin test- and serology test-reactive to Dp, Usi ng purified Der p 2, 87.8% (72/82) of patients had a skin-test-positive rea ction. Six adults (6/41) and 4 children (4/41) had negative skin tests for Der p 2, Ten families (both parents and children were asthmatics) of the 82 patients were selected for Der p 2 skin testing and Der p 2-specific IgE d etermination using immunoblot analysis, Results showed that 90% (18/20) of patients' skin reactions to Der p 2 and serum contained specific IgE to Der p 2, Because 87.8% (85.4% of adults and 90.2% of children) of the asthmati c patients with Dp hypersensitivity were allergic to Der p 2, its role in t he pathogenesis of asthma in Taiwan appears to be important. Purified Der p 2 allergens can be further used for allergen skin testing and immunotherap y. (C) 2000 S. Karger AG, Basel.