To evaluate the clinical outcome and changes in allergen-specific antibodies during sublingual immunotherapy (SLIT) in house dust mite (HDM)-allergic asthma patients and to compare levels of allergen-specific antibodies in HDM-allergic patients before and after treatment with that of healthy controls. Method: Thirty-one asthma patients allergic to HDM were studied. Patients in groups I (n = 17) and II (n = 14) received SLIT with a standardized Dermatophagoides pteronyssinus plus Dermatophagoides farinae 50/50 extract for 6 and 12 months, respectively. A group of healthy  children (n = 8) were enrolled as controls. Patients in both groups were

Rationale: Mouse models of allergic airway disease have greatly contributed to our understanding of disease induction and pathogenesis. While these models typically investigate responses to a single antigen or allergen, humans are frequently exposed to a myriad of allergens, each with distinct antigenic potential.

House dust mite (HDM) is a common allergen of allergic asthma. Eosinophils are principal effector cells of allergic in?ammation and their adhesion onto human bronchial epithelial cells is mediated by a CD18–intracellular adhesion molecule-1 (ICAM-1)-dependent interaction. We studied the effects of
HDM Dermatophagoides pteronyssinus (Der p) 1 on the activation of eosinophils and bronchial epithelial BEAS-2B cells. Cytokines and adhesion molecules were measured using ?ow cytometry.
Transcription factor nuclear factor-jB (NF-jB) and activator protein-1 (AP-1) and signaling molecule
p38 mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) were analyzed using electromobility shift assay and
western blot, respectively.

The ef?cient manufacture of recombinant Der p 1 and Der f 1 has been an important bottleneck in the study of house dust mite allergies and the development of applications for allergen engineering. While Der f 1 has only one N-glycosylation motif in the mature sequence, Der p 1 has two motifs, one in the prosequence and the other in the mature sequence. To test whether inef?  cient maturation of a recombinant Pro-Der p 1 versus Pro-Der f 1 is due to N-glycosylation, the maturation speed of N-glycosylation motif mutants was compared.

The association of asthma with sensitization and allergen exposure is known to be complex. There have been few studies of bronchial responsiveness in relation to both risk factors in adults.
Objectives: To determine the relation of bronchial responsiveness to allergen exposure and IgE sensitization in a community study taking into account the major determinants of bronchial responsiveness in adulthood.