Dust mite-derived Enterobacterial fimbriae H protein enforces the allergen specific immunotherapy in asthma mice
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Updated: Dec 20, 2025
Murine Model of Allergen Induced Asthma
Published on: May 14, 2012
1State Key Laboratory of Respiratory Disease for Allergy at Shenzhen University, Shenzhen Key Laboratory of Allergy & Immunology, Shenzhen University School of Medicine, Shenzhen, 518060, China; Shenzhen Luohu Maternity and Child Healthcare Hospital, #2013 Taibai Road, Shenzhen, 518019, China.
Background:
The mite alimentary canal contains plenty of microbiota. It is accepted that some of the microbial products function as adjuvants to speed up immune responses.
Objectives:
We identified five bacterial proteins from dust mite, and Enterobacterial fimbriae H (FimH) was one of them. This study aims to test a hypothesis that the FimH protein enforces immunotherapy in asthmatic mice.
Methods:
Asthmatic mice were treated by allergen specific immunotherapy (ASIT) with rDer f1/f2 or rDer f1/f2 plus FimH. Changes in inflammatory cell infiltration, airway hyperreactivity, frequency of Tregs, splenic CD4+IFN-γ+ cells, and serum levels of TGF-β, IL-10, IL-13 and IL-17A of asthmatic mice were checked.
Results:
ASIT with rDer f1/f2 plus FimH reduced inflammatory cell infiltration, airway hyperreactivity (AHR), and levels of IgE and IgG1 compared to ASIT with rDer f1/f2 alone, but the levels of IgG2a increased. Asthmatic mice that underwent ASIT with rDer f1/f2 plus FimH showed increased frequency of Tregs, splenic CD4+IFN-γ+ cells, serum levels of TGF-β and IL-10; and deceased splenic CD4+IL-4+ cells, and serum levels of IL-13 and IL-17A. In vitro study showed FimH triggered IL-10 expression in a concentration dependent manner and facilitated the differentiation of Tregs.
Conclusion:
Used as an adjuvant, FimH enforces the effect of ASIT in asthmatic mice via augmenting Tregs.
Insights
Enterobacterial fimbriae H (FimH) protein enhances immunotherapy for asthma in mice. FimH boosts regulatory T cells (Tregs) and improves allergic responses, offering a novel therapeutic strategy for asthma.
Area of Science:
- Immunology
- Microbiology
- Allergy Research
Background:
- Dust mite microbiota produce microbial products that can act as immune adjuvants.
- Bacterial proteins, including Enterobacterial fimbriae H (FimH), are found in dust mites.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the potential of FimH as an adjuvant to enhance allergen-specific immunotherapy (ASIT) in a mouse model of asthma.
- To determine if FimH can improve the efficacy of ASIT by modulating immune responses.
Main Methods:
- Asthmatic mice were treated with ASIT using recombinant Der f1/f2 allergens, with or without FimH.
- Evaluated changes in inflammatory cell infiltration, airway hyperreactivity, regulatory T cell (Treg) frequency, specific immune cell populations (CD4+IFN-γ+, CD4+IL-4+), and serum cytokine levels (TGF-β, IL-10, IL-13, IL-17A).
- In vitro studies assessed FimH's effect on IL-10 expression and Treg differentiation.
Main Results:
- ASIT combined with FimH significantly reduced airway inflammation, hyperreactivity, and specific IgE/IgG1 levels compared to ASIT alone.
- FimH treatment increased Treg frequency, CD4+IFN-γ+ cells, and serum TGF-β and IL-10 levels, while decreasing CD4+IL-4+ cells and IL-13/IL-17A levels.
- In vitro, FimH induced IL-10 production in a dose-dependent manner and promoted Treg differentiation.
Conclusions:
- FimH acts as an effective adjuvant, enhancing the therapeutic effects of ASIT in asthmatic mice.
- The mechanism involves augmenting regulatory T cells (Tregs), leading to improved immune tolerance and reduced allergic inflammation.
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