A 2013 report from the Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) estimates 39.5 million Americans have been diagnosed with asthma in their lifetimes, with the prevalence of asthma having increased by 28% from 2001-20111. Furthermore, a 2011 report from the National Center for Health Statistics estimated that in 2007 alone, asthma accounted for $56 billion dollars (in 2009 dollars) in costs to Americans due to medical expenses, lost productivity, and premature death2. As the prevalence of asthma in industrialized nations continues to increase, it is essential that research into the pathogenesis of asthma continues to mitigate the large financial burden that the disease exerts on a society.
Both acute and chronic allergen challenge models have proven useful tools for elucidating the molecular mechanisms underlying allergic asthma reactions and identifying potential therapeutic targets. Ovalbumin (OVA) purifed from chicken egg whites has traditionally been used in acute challenge models with great success, but it's use in chronic models is limited since repeated exposure to OVA may result in tolerance and an amelioration of airway hyperresponsiveness (AHR). Furthermore, OVA exposure in rodent models can induce some hallmark signs of asthma (airway inflammation, increased IgE levels, AHR, etc.), but it is not an ideal model since OVA is not a clinically relevant antigen in human asthma. As such, models using antigens that are more relevant to human disease have been developed, most notably house dust mite (HDM) extract. House dust mites are one of the most common asthma antigens, affecting up to 85% of asthma sufferers3. Of the numerous species of HDM, the two that are most commonly found in homes are Dermatophagoides pteronyssinus and Dermatophagoides farinae4. Accordingly, extracts from these two species are often used in animal models of human asthma. As these HDM models continue to develop, it is vital to be able to accurately characterize the antibody response elicited by these antigens. Of significant importance is the IgE response elicited by HDM, as IgE has long been implicated in type 1 hypersensitivity reactions.
For this reason, Chondrex, Inc. is happy to announce the addition of our Mouse Anti-House Dust Mite IgE Antibody Assay Kit to our line of Mouse Anti-HDM Antibody Assay Kits. Follow the link for more details! If you have not tried our HDM kits before and would like to, please do not forget to ask about our 50% trial discount!
References
- Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Asthma FactsCDCs National Asthma Control Program Grantees. Atlanta, GA: U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 2013.
- Akinbami LJ, Moorman JE, Liu X. Asthma prevalence, health care use, and mortality: United States, 20052009. National health statistics reports; no 32. Hyattsville, MD: National Center for Health Statistics. 2011.
- V. D. Gandhi, C. Davidson, M. Asaduzzaman, D. Nahirney, H. Vliagoftis, House dust mite interactions with airway epithelium: role in allergic airway inflammation. Curr Allergy Asthma Rep 13, 262-270 (2013).
- L. G. Gregory, C. M. Lloyd, Orchestrating house dust mite-associated allergy in the lung. Trends Immunol 32, 402-411 (2011).