Clinical Effectiveness of Tyrophagus putrescentiae Allergy by Local Nasal Immunotherapy Using Strips of Dermatophagoides pteronyssinus

Abstract

Background. House dust mites are a major source of aeroallergens for patients with allergic rhinitis and asthma. Most patients with allergic rhinitis are simultaneously sensitized by Dermatophagoides pteronyssinus (Dp) and Tyrophagus putrescentiae (Tp). Dp and Tp allergy in allergic rhinitis can be caused by cross-reactivity, and the group 2 mite allergens appear to be the major cross-reactive allergens in mites. We previously demonstrated that local nasal immunotherapy (LNIT) with Dp-coated strips could modulate the serum levels of Dp-specific IgE. The aim of this study was to investigate whether Tp allergy could be modulated by LNIT with Dp. Methods. Both Tyr p2-specific IgE in the sera and its effect on Tyr p2-triggered basophil histamine release (BHR) were measured to evaluate the Tp-mediated allergic reaction before and after LNIT. Results. The results showed that not only was Tyr p2-specific IgE reduced, but also Tyr p2-triggered histamine release in the sera after LNIT with Dp allergen strips. There was a significant reduction of Tyr p2-specific IgG1 and upregulation of IgG4 after LNIT with Dp allergen strips. When the amounts of histamine were compared between the two groups, rDer p2-triggering or rTyr p2-triggering histamine release was significantly reduced in the Dp treatment group compared with the normal saline treatment group. No matter in the rDer p2-triggering or rTyr p2-triggering histamine release, differences between before LNIT and after LNIT were statistically significant in the Dp group. Conclusion. Our study demonstrated that not only was Tyr p2-specific IgE reduced in the sera, but also its biological activity of Tyr p2-triggered BHR after LNIT with Dp strips. It is conceivable that the clinical effectiveness of Tp allergy by LNIT with Dp allergen strips may exist.

• allergen strips
• allergic rhinitis
• clinical effectiveness
• Dermatophagoides pteronyssinus
• immunotherapy
• Tyrophagus putrescentiae

Acknowledgments

The authors sincerely appreciate the assistance of the Biostatistics Task Force of Taichung Veterans General Hospital for statistical assistance, and Dr. JL Sheu, Biomedical Engineering Research Labs, Industrial Technology Research Institute for the sterile strip preparation.

This study was supported by grants (TCVGH- NCHU997611) from Taichung Veterans General Hospital and (VGHUST-99-G6-4) from Veterans General Hospitals University System of Taiwan Joint Research Program. The authors have no commercial association with any sponsoring companies/organizations that might pose a conflict of interest with the submitted manuscript. All authors have no financial and personal relationships with other people or organizations that could influence this study. Written informed consent was obtained from all study participants after detailed explanations. All of the processes in this study followed the ethics regulations of the journal and Taichung Veterans General Hospital.