horse dander extract

Horse dander extract is a biological allergenic extract derived from the dander and hair of the horse (*Equus caballus*). It is utilized in clinical practice for the diagnosis and treatment of Type I hypersensitivity reactions to horse allergens. The extract contains a complex mixture of proteins, including the major allergen Equ c 1 (a lipocalin) and Equ c 2. For diagnostic purposes, it is used in skin prick testing to elicit a wheal-and-flare reaction by cross-linking allergen-specific IgE on the surface of cutaneous mast cells. For therapeutic purposes, it is administered via allergen-specific immunotherapy (AIT), typically through subcutaneous injections (SCIT). The mechanism of AIT involves the induction of peripheral T-cell tolerance, a shift from a Th2 to a Th1 immune response, and the production of "blocking" antibodies such as IgG4, which compete with IgE for allergen binding, thereby reducing allergic symptoms upon subsequent environmental exposure.

Other names

Equus caballus danderHorse hair and dander extractHorse epithelium extractHorse dander vaccine