Dermatophagoides pteronyssinus allergen 2 (Der p 2)

Dermatophagoides pteronyssinus allergen 2 (Der p 2) is a 15 kDa protein from the European house dust mite that serves as a major trigger for respiratory allergies worldwide [1, 8]. It is a member of the Niemann-Pick type C2 (NPC2) family and possesses a hydrophobic cavity that binds lipids, most notably cholesterol and lipopolysaccharides [3, 7]. A key feature of Der p 2 is its ability to function as a structural and functional mimic of MD-2, the co-receptor for Toll-like receptor 4 (TLR4), which allows it to directly activate innate immune pathways and exacerbate airway inflammation [2, 6]. Sensitization to Der p 2 is extremely common, occurring in approximately 80-100% of house dust mite-allergic patients, and is strongly associated with the development of allergic asthma and rhinitis [1, 10]. In clinical practice, Der p 2 is a primary component of standardized allergen extracts used in immunotherapy to induce immune tolerance and reduce sensitivity [11, 12]. Therapeutic strategies targeting Der p 2 include the use of hypoallergenic recombinant variants and the development of small molecules or antibodies designed to block its pro-inflammatory signaling through the TLR4 complex [4, 6].

Other names

Major allergen Der p 2Group 2 mite allergend203NPC2 family proteinML domain-containing protein

Der p 2 is used in allergen-specific immunotherapy (AIT) to induce immune tolerance by shifting the immune response from a Th2-mediated allergic profile to a Th1/Treg-mediated profile, increasing allergen-specific IgG4 levels, and reducing IgE-mediated mast cell and basophil activation [5, 12].