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Published on: May 30, 2020
Alpha-actinin is a new type of house dust mite allergen
Su An1, Chuanbing Shen, Xiaoyu Liu
1Key Laboratory of Animal Models and Human Disease Mechanisms of Chinese Academy of Sciences & Yunnan Province, Kunming Institute of Zoology, Kunming, Yunnan, China ; Graduate School of the Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China.
Abstract:
Main indoor allergens for humans are from house dust mites. There are more than 30 allergens in Dermatophagoides farinae but only fourteen allergens have been identified from this mite including Der f 1-3, 6, 7, 10, 11, 13-18, and 22. A native allergen protein (Der f 24, 90 kDa) was purified from D. farinae by gel filtration and anionic exchange liquid chromatography combined with IgE immunodetection. Its primary structure was determined by Edman degradation, mass spectrometry analysis and cDNA cloning. Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay inhibition tests (ELISA-IT), immunoblots, basophil activation test (BAT) and skin prick test (SPT) were performed to evaluate the allergenicity. It was identified as an alpha (α)-actinin containing a CaM-like domain with EF-hand motifs. Der f 24 reacted to sera from 85.4% (35/41) of patients on western blot analysis. It reduced ∼20% sera IgE reactivity to D. farinae extracts on a competitive ELISA. Eighty percent (8/10) of patients with D. farinae allergy showed positive reactions to Der f 24 in skin prick test. The expression of CD63 on basophils from patients was up-regulated by Der f 24 by ∼5.4-fold. Alpha-actinin was identified as a new type of house dust mite allergen. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first report of α-actinin as an allergen.
Insights
Scientists identified a new house dust mite allergen, alpha-actinin (Der f 24), which is recognized by a high percentage of allergic patients. This finding advances our understanding of dust mite allergy triggers.
Area of Science:
- Immunology
- Allergology
- Molecular Biology
Background:
- House dust mites are a primary source of indoor allergens.
- Over 30 allergens are known in Dermatophagoides farinae, with fourteen previously identified.
Purpose of the Study:
- To identify and characterize novel allergens from Dermatophagoides farinae.
- To investigate the allergenic potential of a newly purified protein, Der f 24.
Main Methods:
- Purification of Der f 24 using chromatography.
- Structural determination via Edman degradation, mass spectrometry, and cDNA cloning.
- Allergenicity assessment using ELISA inhibition, immunoblots, basophil activation tests, and skin prick tests.
Main Results:
- Der f 24, identified as alpha-actinin, contains a CaM-like domain with EF-hand motifs.
- It reacted with sera from 85.4% of patients and showed significant IgE reactivity.
- Positive skin prick test reactions were observed in 80% of patients with Dermatophagoides farinae allergy.
Conclusions:
- Alpha-actinin (Der f 24) is a newly identified major allergen in house dust mites.
- This discovery provides new insights into the molecular basis of house dust mite allergy.
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