T-CELL SENSITIZATION TO EPITOPES FROM THE HOUSE-DUST MITES DERMATOPHAGOIDES-PTERONYSSINUS AND EUROGLYPHUS-MAYNEI

Background Dermatophagoides pteronyssinus and Euroglyphus maynei frequ ently occur in house dust but little is known about primary sensitizat ion to the less abundant E. maynei. Objective To determine the occurre nce of primary sensitization to E. maynei by T-cell responses and the crossreactivity to D. pteronyssinus. Methods The proliferative respons e of peripheral blood cells to overlapping peptides from Der p 1 and f ur m 1 were measured as well as to peptides from Der f 1, an allergen not found in the study environment. Results The most frequent and stro ngest responses were to Der p 1 peptides especially in the region 105- 133. However, 3/17 responders to mite peptides were stimulated predomi nantly by Eur m 1 peptides and a further two had their highest respons e to an Eur m 1 peptide. There was very little crossreactivity between Der p 1 and fur m 1 peptides and very little response to peptides fro m Der f 1. Conclusion E. maynei group 1 allergens are a significant so urce of primary T-cell sensitization and have little T-cell crossreact ivity with D. pteronyssinus or D. farinae.