House dust mite allergens (Dermatophagoides farinae and Dermatophagoides pteronyssinus) (HDM allergens)

House dust mite (HDM) allergens from the species Dermatophagoides farinae and Dermatophagoides pteronyssinus are the primary drivers of perennial allergic sensitization globally. These allergens are complex mixtures of proteins, with the most clinically significant being the Group 1 (e.g., Der p 1, Der f 1) and Group 2 (e.g., Der p 2, Der f 2) allergens found in mite feces and body parts (UniProt P08176, P49278). Group 1 allergens are cysteine proteases that can degrade epithelial cell junctions, facilitating their own entry into the subepithelial space, while Group 2 allergens mimic MD-2 to activate the TLR4 signaling pathway, enhancing the allergic inflammatory response (PMID: 28434614). In sensitized individuals, these proteins cross-link IgE on the surface of mast cells and basophils, leading to the release of inflammatory mediators that cause symptoms of allergic rhinitis, asthma, and atopic dermatitis. Therapeutically, these allergens are used as the active components in allergen-specific immunotherapy (AIT), such as the sublingual tablet Odactra, to desensitize the immune system (FDA, 2017). AIT aims to restore immune balance by inducing peripheral T-cell tolerance and promoting the production of protective IgG4 antibodies, thereby providing long-term relief from allergic symptoms (PMID: 24448050).

Other names

House dust mite extractDermatophagoides farinae and Dermatophagoides pteronyssinus extractMite allergensStandardized house dust mite allergen extractHDM allergens

Allergen-specific immunotherapy (AIT) induces immune tolerance by promoting the expansion of regulatory T-cells (Tregs), shifting the immune response from Th2 to Th1, and increasing the production of allergen-specific IgG4 blocking antibodies (PMID: 24448050, PMID: 28434614).