• Research in Community and Public Health Nursing
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• v.13 no.1
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• pp.79-88
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• 2002

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to identify the indoor environment i.e. house type and age, ventilation method, use of bed & sofa, cockroach, ants, etc. on HDM (House dust mites), especially Der fI allergen. Method: Samples of dust from mattresses, pillows and the floor were collected by using a vacuum cleaner from April. 2000. The amount of Group I allergen(Der. fI) of HDM (house dust mites) were measured by two-site ELISA. Indoor Environmental characteristics were accessed by using questionnaires on 178 house wives living in the Seoul area. Results: The amount of HDM allergen (Der fI) was higher in sofa using house. There were higher concentrations of HDM allergen (Der fI) in sofas made from quilt material than for those that were made from leather. Homes that had pets like dogs living in them had higher concentrations of HDM allergen (Der fI) than without dogs. Conclusion: The photophobic mites thrive in dark. warm and humid environments; Items such as pillows. mattresses, box springs, blankets. carpets. and upholstered furniture should be considered ideal environments for the mite. Therefore, an indoor environmental control program should be carried out to avoid the HDM allergen.

• Journal of Veterinary Clinics
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• v.21 no.2
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• pp.93-96
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• 2004

We examined the responses of PBMCs to house dust mite (HDM) allergen in atopic and healthy, non-atopic dogs to identify differences in lymphocyte reactivity that might reflect the immunologic status of atopic dermatitis. Thirteen of 20 (65%) atopic dogs showed a positive lymphocyte proliferative response to HDM allergen. The rate of response was significantly higher in the atopic dogs than that in healthy, non-atopic dogs insensitive to the allergen (P = 0.007). The proliferative responses were positively correlated with the level of HDM-specific IgE in serum (P = 0.035), and were thereby confirmed to reflect the activity of lymphocytes competent to promote IgE production. These results suggest that HDM-specific lymphocytes were present in peripheral blood and played a role in the pathogenesis of canine atopic dermatitis.

• Journal of Korean Public Health Nursing
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• v.16 no.1
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• pp.30-44
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• 2002

The purpose of this study were to identify seasons variation of house dust mites allergen and perceived allergic symptom. The subjects were consisted of 29 family with allergy patients and 34 family without allergy patients. Perceived allergic symptoms were accessed and house dust was sampled from beds, floor of bedroom, kitchen and livingroom in spring(August), summer (July), fall(October) and winter(January) and tested using two-site ELISA. The results were as follows; 1) In all family, amount of house dust mites allergen(Der fI) of livingroom floor was the highest in summer$(4.73{\mu}g/1g\;of\;dust)$, and then fall$4.67{\mu}g/1g\;of\;dust)$, winter$(3.94{\mu}g/1g\;of\;dust)$, spring$(1.73{\mu}g/1g\;of\;dust)$. 2) In family with allergy patients, amount of house dust mites allergen(Der fI) of bedroom floor was highest in fall $(9.75{\mu}g/1g\;of\;dust)$. 3) In family with allergy patients, amount of house dust mites allergen(Der fI) of mattress was highest in fall$(8.23{\mu}g/1g\;of\;dust)$. 4) Perceived allergic symptom scores of family with allergy patients were higher than family without allergy patients in all seasons. In family without allergy patients, perceived allergic symptom scores was the highest in spring(4.29) and perceived allergic symptom scores of family with patients was the highest in winter(2.49). 5) The relationship of house dust mites allergen and perceived allergic symptom scores were positively related (r=.941, p=.000). Perceived allergic symptoms were correlated with amount of house dust mites allergen, That is, perceived allergic symptoms were became worse by house dust mites allergen. So House dust mites allergen reducing strategies and intervention should be recommended in further study.

• Parasites, Hosts and Diseases
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• v.62 no.3
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• pp.365-377
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• 2024

Exposure to storage mite (SM) and house dust mite (HDM) allergens is a risk factor for sensitization and asthma development; however, the related immune responses and their pathology have not been fully investigated. The HDMs Dermatophagoides farinae and Dermatophagoides pteronyssinus and SM Tyrophagus putrescentiae are potent allergens that induce asthma. Most SM-related studies have focused on the allergic reactions of individuals by measuring their immunoglobulin (Ig)E expression. Considering the limited research on this topic, the present study aims to investigate the differences in the immune responses induced by HDMs and SMs and histologically analyze lung tissues in a mouse asthma model to understand the differential effects of HDM and SM. The results revealed that all mite species induced airway inflammation. Mice challenged with T. putrescentiae had the highest airway resistance and total cell, eosinophil, and neutrophil counts in the bronchoalveolar lavage fluid (BALF). The SM-sensitized groups showed more severe lesions and mucus hypersecretions than the HDM-sensitized groups. Although the degree of HDM and SM exposure was the same, the damage to the respiratory lung tissue was more severe in SM-exposed mice, which resulted in excessive mucin secretion and increased fibrosis. Furthermore, these findings suggest that SM sensitization induces a more significant hypersensitivity response in mucosal immunity than HDM sensitization in asthma models.

• Journal of Veterinary Clinics
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• v.22 no.1
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• pp.26-30
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• 2005

The purpose of this study is to investigate the prevalent allergens causing canine atopic dermatitis in Daejeon area. Twenty two dogs were diagnosed with atopic dermatitis by an using intradermal skin test (IDST). Allergens used for the IDST included 33 allergen extracts from nine allergen groups: house dust mites (HDM), house dust, moulds, trees, weeds, grasses, insects/fleas, epithelia and others. The 22 purebred dogs with atopic dermatitis enrolled in this study included Shi-tzus (10/22, 45.5%), Yorkshire terriers (5/22, 22.7%), Miniature pinschers (4/22, 18.2%), Pugs (2/ 22, 9.1 %) and Cocker spaniels (1/22, 4.5%). The age of onset of atopic dermatitis ranged from 5 months to 5 years old (median: 1.79 years). The males (12/22, 54.5%) and females (10/22, 45.5%) were almost equal. The number of positive reactions to allergens recorded in each dog with atopic dermatitis was 3 (9/22, 40.9%), 2 (8/22, 36.4%), 1 (3/ 22, 13.6%) and 4 (2/22, 9.1 %), respectively. The most common positive allergen reaction was HDM (52.6%). The other positive allergen reactions recorded were from house dust (17.5%), insects/fleas (15.8%), trees (5.3%), moulds (3.5%), kapok (3.5%), silk (3.5%), epithelia (1.8%), weeds (0%) and grasses (0%), respectively. Positive reactions recorded to Dermatophagoides farinae and D. pteronyssinus were in 53.3% and 46.7%, respectively. The IDST results demonstrate that the most common causative allergens in canine atopic dermatitis in Daejeon area were HDM.

• BMB Reports
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• v.54 no.3
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• pp.182-187
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• 2021

Leukotriene B4 (LTB4) is a lipid mediator of inflammation that is generated from arachidonic acid via the 5-lipoxygenase pathway. Previous studies have reported that the receptors of LTB4, BLT1, and BLT2 play mediatory roles in the allergic airway inflammation induced by ovalbumin (OVA). However, considering that house dust mites (HDMs) are the most prevalent allergen and well-known risk factor for asthmatic allergies, we are interested in elucidating the contributory roles of BLT1/2 in HDM-induced allergic airway inflammation. Our aim in this study was to investigate whether BLT1/2 play any roles in HDM-induced allergic airway inflammation. In this study, we observed that the levels of ligands for BLT1/2 [LTB4 and 12(S)-HETE (12(S)-hydroxyeicosatetraenoic acid)] were significantly increased in bronchoalveolar lavage fluid (BALF) after HDM challenge. Blockade of BLT1 or BLT2 as well as of 5-lipoxygenase (5-LO) or 12-lipoxygenase (12-LO) markedly suppressed the production of TH2 cytokines (IL-4, IL-5, and IL-13) and alleviated lung inflammation and mucus secretion in an HDM-induced eosinophilic airway-inflammation mouse model. Together, these results indicate that the 5-/12-LO-BLT1/2 cascade plays a role in HDM-induced airway inflammation by mediating the production of TH2 cytokines. Our findings suggest that BLT1/2 may be a potential therapeutic target for patients with HDM-induced allergic asthma.

• Allergy, Asthma & Immunology Research
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• v.10 no.6
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• pp.675-685
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• 2018

Purpose: This study aims to determine the efficacy and safety of house dust mite (HDM)-sublingual immunotherapy (SLIT) in elderly patients with AR. Methods: A total of 45 patients aged ${\geq}60years$ with HDM-induced AR who had ${\geq}3$ A/H ratio on skin prick test and/or ${\geq}0.35IU/L$ to both Dermatophagoides farinae and Dermatophagoides pteronyssinus by ImmunoCAP were enrolled in 4 university hospitals. To evaluate additional effects of HDM-SLIT, they were randomized to the SLIT-treated group (n = 30) or control group (n = 15). Rhinoconjunctivitis total symptom score (RTSS), rhinoscopy score, Korean rhinoconjunctivitis quality of life questionnaire, rhinitis control assessment test, asthma control test scores, and adverse reactions, were assessed at the first visit (V1) and after 1 year of treatment (V5); for immunological evaluation, serum levels of HDM-specific immunoglobulin A/IgE/IgG1/IgG4 antibodies and basophil response to HDMs were compared between V1 and V5 in both groups. Results: There were no significant differences in demographics, RTSS, skin reactivity to HDMs, or serum total/specific IgE levels to HDMs (P > 0.05, respectively) between the 2 groups. Nasal symptom score and RTSS decreased significantly at year 1 in the 2 groups (P < 0.05). There were no significant differences in percent decrease in nasal symptom score and RTSS at year 1 between the 2 groups (P > 0.05); however, rhinoscopic nasal symptom score decreased significantly in the SLIT-treated group (P < 0.05). Immunological studies showed that serum specific IgA levels (not specific IgE/IgG) and CD203c expression on basophils decreased significantly at V5 in the SLIT-treated group (P = 0.011 and P = 0.001, respectively), not in the control group. The control group required more medications compared to the treatment group, but there were no differences in adverse reactions. Conclusions: It is suggested that HDM-SLIT for 1 year could induce symptom improvement and may induce immunomodulation in elderly rhinitis patients.

• Allergy, Asthma & Immunology Research
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• v.10 no.6
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• pp.662-674
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• 2018

Purpose: Group 2 innate lymphoid cells (ILC2s) have been implicated in the pathogenesis of allergic disease. However, the effect of allergen-specific immunotherapy (AIT) on ILCs remains to be clarified. The aim of this study was to evaluate the levels of ILC subsets in allergic rhinitis (AR) patients in response to house dust mite (HDM)-specific immunotherapy. Methods: We enrolled 37 AR patients undergoing AIT (16 responders and 11 non-responders) for 2 years, 35 HDM AR patients and 28 healthy subjects. Peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) were analyzed by flow cytometry to identify ILC subsets. Stimulation of ILC2s with recombinant allergen-specific protein was used to determine ILC2's activation (CD69 expression). Results: Responder AIT patients and healthy subjects had a decreased frequency of circulating ILC2s compared to non-responder AIT and AR patients. Conversely, ILC1s from responder AIT patients and healthy subjects showed increased frequency compared to non-responder AIT and AR patients. The frequency of ILC3s natural cytotoxicity receptor $(NCR)^+$ and $NCR^-$ in responder AIT patients was significantly lower compared to AR patients and healthy subjects. The ILC1: ILC2 proportion in responder AIT patients was similar to that of healthy subjects. PBMCs from patients who were responders to AIT had a significantly lower expression of the activation marker CD69 on ILC2s in response to allergen re-stimulation compared to AR patients, but no difference compared to non-responder AIT patients and healthy subjects. Conclusions: We propose that AIT might affect ILC responses. The activation of ILC2s was reduced in AR patients treated with AIT. Our results indicate that a relative ILC1/ILC2 skewed response is a possible key to successful AIT.

• Biomedical Science Letters
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• v.29 no.3
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• pp.206-209
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• 2023

Asthma is a chronic and allergic inflammation in the lung, mainly caused by house dust mites (HDM). Recent studies have reported Der p 38 and Der f 38 (Dermatophagoides pteronyssinus and D. farinae, respectively) as crucial allergens of HDMs. This study investigates the different allergic effects of Der p 38 and Der f 38 in an asthma-like mouse model. Lung infiltration of neutrophils was induced by intranasal administration of Der p 38 and Der f 38, with stronger infiltration being observed after exposure to Der p 38. Intranasal and intraperitoneal administration of Der p 38 induced the infiltration of neutrophils and eosinophils in the lung, which was similar to the effect subsequent to Der f 38 administration. Although the number of mast cells was increased, no significant difference was obtained between the effects of both allergens. In TLR4 knockout BALB/c mice, Der p 38 and Der f 38 had no effect on the infiltration of neutrophils, eosinophils, and mast cells. Additionally, allergenicity induced by Der p 38 and Der f 38 in the basophils of Der p38+/Der f 38+ asthmatic subjects was similar, although Der f 38 presented stronger allergenicity in basophils of Der p38+/Der f 38+ allergic patients than Der p 38. These findings contribute to understanding the role of similar allergen components derived from different species in the pathogenesis of allergic diseases.

• Korean Journal of Clinical Laboratory Science
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• v.47 no.4
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• pp.230-236
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• 2015

Dermatophagoides pteronissinus (DP) is one of the house dust mites (HDM) associated with allergic diseases. The cysteine protease Der p 1 from DP is a powerful allergen. The pathogenic mechanism of allergy is involved in cytokine secretion of lymphocytes and spontaneous apoptosis of neutrophils. In this study, we investigated whether Der p 1 induces cytokine secretion of lymphocytes and if the release of cytokines is associated with regulation of neutrophil apoptosis. In normal and allergic subjects, Der p 1 increased IL-6, IL-8, MCP-1, and GM-CSF release in a time-dependent course. Supernatants collected from normal and allergic neutrophils after Der p 1 stimulation suppressed the apoptosis of normal and allergic neutrophils, although Der p 1 alone has no effect on neutrophils. Der p 1 suppressed neutrophil apoptosis in coculture of normal neutrophils with normal lymphocytes. Der p 1 more strongly suppressed apoptosis of allergic neutrophils cocultured with allergic lymphocytes than normal neutrophils cocultured with normal lymphocytes. In summary, Der p 1 increases the secretion of cytokines, which has anti-apoptotic effects on neutrophils of normal and allergic subjects. These results will contribute to elucidate the pathogenic mechanism of allergic diseases.