House dust mite allergen Der p 1 (Der p 1)

House dust mite allergen Der p 1 is the major protein antigen from the house dust mite species *Dermatophagoides pteronyssinus*. It is a cysteine protease that acts as a potent environmental allergen and plays a central role in triggering allergic diseases such as asthma. Upon inhalation, Der p 1 interacts with airway epithelial cells by cleaving tight junction proteins, which increases epithelial permeability and allows access to immune cells. It can activate pattern recognition receptors such as TLR4 and protease-sensitive receptors on immune cells. This leads to activation of innate immunity pathways including inflammasome signaling and recruitment of myeloid cells like dendritic cells and eosinophils. Der p 1 also modulates adaptive immunity by favoring Th2 polarization through its effects on cytokines—specifically increasing IL‑4 while suppressing IFNγ—and enhances IgE production by cleaving regulatory molecules like CD23. Cross-linking of IgE bound to mast cell surfaces by Der p 1 results in mast cell degranulation and release of histamine, driving symptoms associated with allergic asthma[1][2]. The molecular structure has been well characterized for both this protein from *D. pteronyssinus* ("Der p") and its close homolog from *D. farinae* ("Der f"), which share high sequence similarity[3]. While "house dust mite protein antigen" refers broadly to many proteins produced by mites that can act as allergens, Der p 1 is recognized as the principal clinically relevant target for allergy research due to its immunodominant properties.

Other names

Dermatophagoides pteronyssinus group 1 allergenHDM major allergenCysteine protease Der p 1House dust mite protein antigen