Abstract
House dust mites (HDM; Dermatophagoides sp.) are one of the commonest aeroallergens worldwide and up to 85% of asthmatics are typically HDM allergic. Allergenicity is associated both with the mites themselves and with ligands derived from mite-associated bacterial and fungal products. Murine models of allergic airways disease for asthma research have recently switched from the use of surrogate allergen ovalbumin together with adjuvant to use of the HDM extract. This has accelerated understanding of how adaptive and innate immunity generate downstream pathology. We review the myriad ways in which HDM allergic responses are orchestrated. Understanding the molecular pathways that elicit HDM-associated pathology is likely to reveal novel targets for therapeutic intervention.
Copyright © 2011 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.
MeSH terms
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Adrenal Cortex Hormones / administration & dosage
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Adrenal Cortex Hormones / therapeutic use
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Allergens / adverse effects
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Allergens / immunology*
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Animals
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Antigens, Dermatophagoides / immunology*
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Asthma / immunology*
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Asthma / pathology
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Asthma / therapy
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Bronchi / immunology*
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Bronchi / pathology
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Bronchial Hyperreactivity / immunology*
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Bronchial Hyperreactivity / pathology
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Bronchial Hyperreactivity / therapy
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Chitin / immunology
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Cytokines / biosynthesis
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Dendritic Cells / immunology
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Dendritic Cells / metabolism
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Disease Models, Animal
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Epithelial Cells / immunology
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Epithelial Cells / metabolism
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Humans
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Immunotherapy / methods*
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Mice
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Pyroglyphidae / immunology*
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Respiratory Mucosa / cytology
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Respiratory Mucosa / immunology
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Respiratory Mucosa / metabolism
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Spores, Fungal / immunology
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Toll-Like Receptors / immunology
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Toll-Like Receptors / metabolism
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beta-Glucans / immunology
Substances
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Adrenal Cortex Hormones
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Allergens
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Antigens, Dermatophagoides
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Cytokines
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Toll-Like Receptors
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beta-Glucans
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Chitin