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

• Published in: Experimental dermatology 2012-11, Vol.21 (11), p.842-846
• Main Authors: Szalai, Krisztina, Kopp, Tamara, Lukschal, Anna, Stremnitzer, Caroline, Wallmann, Julia, Starkl, Philipp, Vander Elst, Luc, Saint-Remy, Jean-Marie, Pali-Schöll, Isabella, Jensen-Jarolim, Erika
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Adjuvants; Allergens - adverse effects; Allergic diseases; allergic eczema; Animals; Antigens, Dermatophagoides - adverse effects; Arthropod Proteins - adverse effects; atopic eczema; Biological and medical sciences; Cysteine Endopeptidases - adverse effects; Der p1 & Der p 2; Dermatitis, Atopic - etiology; Dermatitis, Atopic - immunology; Dermatitis, Atopic - pathology; Dermatology; Dermatophagoides pteronyssinus; Disease Models, Animal; Eosinophils - pathology; Female; house dust mite; Immunoglobulin E - blood; Immunoglobulin G - blood; Immunopathology; Mast Cells - pathology; Medical sciences; Mice; Mice, Inbred BALB C; Original; protease activity; Pyroglyphidae - immunology; recombinant allergens; Recombinant Proteins - adverse effects; Skin allergic diseases. Stinging insect allergies; T-Lymphocytes - pathology
• ISSN: 0906-6705; 1600-0625
• DOI: 10.1111/exd.12015

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.