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. 2013 Mar;5(2):68-74.
doi: 10.4168/aair.2013.5.2.68. Epub 2012 Oct 24.

The innate immune response in house dust mite-induced allergic inflammation

Jiu-Yao Wang  1
Affiliations

The innate immune response in house dust mite-induced allergic inflammation

Jiu-Yao Wang. Allergy Asthma Immunol Res. 2013 Mar.

Abstract

Hypersensitivity to house dust mite (HDM; Dermatophagoides sp.) allergens is one of the most common allergic responses, affecting up to 85% of asthmatics. Sensitization to indoor allergens is the strongest independent risk factor associated with asthma. Additionally, >50% of children and adolescents with asthma are sensitized to HDM. Although allergen-specific CD4(+) Th2 cells orchestrate the HDM allergic response through induction of IgE directed toward mite allergens, activation of innate immunity also plays a critical role in HDM-induced allergic inflammation. This review highlights the HDM components that lead to activation of the innate immune response. Activation may due to HDM proteases. Proteases may be recognized by protease-activation receptors (PARs), Toll-like receptors (TLRs), or C-type lectin receptors (CTRs), or act as a molecular mimic for PAMP activation signaling pathways. Understanding the role of mite allergen-induced innate immunity will facilitate the development of therapeutic strategies that exploit innate immunity receptors and associated signaling pathways for the treatment of allergic asthma.

Keywords: C-type lectin receptors; House dust mites; dendritic cells; innate immunity; toll-like receptors.

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Conflict of interest statement

There are no financial or other issues that might lead to conflict of interest.

Figures

Fig. 1
Fig. 1
The distributions of house dust mites, Der p, Der f, and Blot in the counties of Taiwan. Red shading indicates the prevalence of childhood asthma as determined by ISSAC.
Fig. 2
Fig. 2
Activation of innate immune cells and the cell surface receptors; toll-like receptor 4 (TLR4), protease activation receptor 2 (PAR2), and C-type lectin receptor (CTR), by house dust mite (HDM) allergens in airway epithelium.
Fig. 3
Fig. 3
The role of DCs and DC-SIGN in HDM allergy. Decreased expression of DC-SIGN and more immature phenotypes in MDDCs from Der p-sensitive asthmatic patients may partially explain the enhancement of the Th2 response associated with HDM-related allergies. In addition, Der p can modulate differentiation and maturation of monocyte-derived DCs through DC-SIGN binding and downregulation of its expression, which may result in an aletred polarization activity, leading to the Th2 cytokine immune response.
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