Abstract
Background: Immediate and delayed-type hypersensitivity reactions to pet-borne allergens are common in atopic diseases. In atopic dermatitis (AD), controversy surrounds the contribution to the disease of cross-reactivity to self-proteins. Human cystatin A and the cat allergen Fel d 3 belong to the cystatins, an evolutionary conserved protein family. The objective of the present study was to assess cross-reactivity between mammalian cystatins and to analyze T-cell responses to cystatin in AD patients sensitized to pet dander. Methods: cDNA coding for dog cystatin was cloned from dog skin. Sera from 245 patients with IgE-mediated sensitization to cat and dog dander were tested for IgE binding to recombinantly expressed feline, canine, and human cystatin. Of these, 141 were also diagnosed with AD. Results: Cystatin-specific IgE was detected in 36 patients (14.7%), of whom 19 were considerably affected by AD. Within the AD patients, 9 had measurable IgE against all 3 cystatins. Cystatin-sensitized AD patients did not differ from non–cystatin-sensitized patients in terms of disease severity, age, or total IgE levels. T-cell cytokine measurements showed elevated IL-4 levels after stimulation with feline and human cystatin. Conclusion: The humoral response suggests that in addition to Fel d 3, the homologous protein from dog might play a role in allergy. Furthermore, human cystatin appears to be capable of driving a type 2 immune response in sensitized AD patients and may therefore be considered a so-called autoallergen, as proposed for other evolutionary conserved proteins.
Original language | English |
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Pages (from-to) | 383-392 |
Number of pages | 10 |
Journal | Journal of Investigational Allergology and Clinical Immunology |
Volume | 32 |
Issue number | 5 |
Early online date | 3 Sept 2021 |
DOIs | |
Publication status | Published - 11 Oct 2022 |
Keywords
- Allergy
- Atopic dermatitis
- Autoallergy
- Autoreactivity
- Can f 8
- Cross-reactivity
- Cystatin
- Cytokine
- Fel d 3
- IgE
- Pet
- Sensitization
- T cell