• Parasites, Hosts and Diseases
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• v.48 no.2
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• pp.151-155
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• 2010

Allergen extracts from dust mites and cockroaches commonly found in Korean homes were used to evaluate their enzymatic activity as they are believed to influence allergenicity. Allergen extracts were prepared from 3 dust mite species (Dermatophagoides farinae, D. pteronyssinus, and Tyrophagus putrescentiae) and 3 cockroach species (Blattella germanica, Periplaneta americana, and P. fuliginosa) maintained in the Korea National Arthropods of Medical Importance Resource Bank. Proteins were extracted in PBS after homogenization using liquid nitrogen. The activities of various enzymes were investigated using the API Zym system. No significant difference in phosphatase, lipase, or glycosidase activity was observed among the 6 allergen extracts, but much difference was observed in protease activity. Protease activity was assessed in more detail by gelatin zymography and the EnzChek assay. Extract from T. putrescentiae showed the highest protease activity, followed by those of the cockroach extracts. Extracts from D. farinae and D. pteronyssinus showed only weak protease activity. Gelatinolytic activity was detected mainly in a 30-kDa protein in D. farinae, a 28-kDa protein in D. pteronyssinus, a > 26-kDa protein in T. putrescentiae, a > 20-kDa protein in B. germanica, and a > 23-kDa protein in P. americana and P. fuliginosa. The information on various enzymatic activities obtained in this study may be useful for future studies. In particular, the strong protease activity found in cockroach extracts could contribute to sensitization to cockroach allergens, which is known to be associated with the development of asthma.

• Korean Journal of Veterinary Research
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• v.43 no.4
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• pp.689-696
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• 2003

Canine sarcoptic mite (Sarcoptes scabiei var. canis) burrow usually in the stratum corneum of the skin of dogs and rabbits. Antigens from the burrowing mites induce cutaneous inflammatory reaction and humoral and cell-mediated immune response in the host. The effect of immunization induced by somatic antigens of house dust mite (Dermatophagoides spp.) has been evaluated to control the canine sarcoptic mite in this experiment. Twelve common antigens (187, 142, 126, 120, 109, 92, 80, 68, 51, 30, 25, 17 kDa) were found using SDS-PAGE with silver staining and Western blot between canine sarcoptic mite and house dust mite. In order to evaluate the immunologic effect of these common antigens 10 New Zealand white rabbits were divided as 4 groups such as negative control (group I), positive challenged control (group II), vaccinated (group III), and vaccinated-challenged (group IV) groups. Group II was artificially infested with about 1,000 canine sarcoptic mites and group III and IV were immunized with somatic antigens of house dust mite. In addition group IV was artificially infested with about 1,000 canine sarcoptic mites and group II, IV were treated with ivermectin. At the 8 weeks of the vaccination with common antigen, the antibody titers of all groups of II, III and IV had been increased. Both infestation score and live canine sarcoptic mite counts of group IV were lower than group III. Infestation score of group II become 0 by 2 weeks and group IV by 4 weeks after infestation. These results suggest that house dust mite, which is easy to culture in vitro, can be a vaccine candidate for protection of canine sarcoptic mite infestation.

• Food Science and Biotechnology
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• v.14 no.1
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• pp.73-76
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• 2005

The acaricidal activities of 12 commercial constituents derived from Eugenia caryophyllata leaf oils against Dermatophagoides farinae, D. pteronyssinus and Tyrophagus putrescentiae adults were examined using an impregnated fabric disk application and compared with that of the commercial benzyl benzoate as synthetic acaricide. On the basis of $LD_{50}$ values, the most toxic compound was methyl eugenol ($4.13\;{\mu}g/cm^2$), followed by methyl isoeugenol ($4.19\;{\mu}g/cm^2$), isoeugenol ($4.29\;{\mu}g/cm^2$), eugenol ($4.94\;{\mu}g/cm^2$), and acetyl eugenol ($13.91\;{\mu}g/cm^2$) against D. farinae. In the case of D. pteronyssinus, isoeugenol ($2.93\;{\mu}g/cm^2$) was the most toxic, followed by methyl isoeugenol ($3.28\;{\mu}g/cm^2$), methyl eugenol ($3.87\;{\mu}g/cm^2$), eugenol ($3.92\;{\mu}g/cm^2$), and acetyl eugenol ($7.21\;{\mu}g/cm^2$). These results suggest that D. pteronyssinus may be controlled more effectively by the application of eugenol congeners than D. farinae. In comparison with synthetic acaricides, the acaricidal activities of eugenol, isoeugenol, methyl eugenol, and methyl isoeugenol were about 1.9-2.2 times more toxic than benzyl benzoate. Furthermore, the most toxic constituent against T. putrescentiae was exhibited on eugenol ($10.11\;{\mu}g/cm^2$), followed by methyl eugenol ($38.67\;{\mu}g/cm^2$) and acetyl eugenol ($70.09\;{\mu}g/cm^2$), but no activity was observed for isoeugenol and methyl isoeugenol. The results suggested that eugenol congeners may be useful as a new source for selective control of house dust mites and stored food mites.

• Animal cells and systems
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• v.13 no.4
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• pp.391-397
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• 2009

The house dust mite (Dermatophagoides pteronissinus) is an important factor in triggering allergic diseases. The function of eosinophils, particularly in the production of cytokine or chemokine, is critical in understanding the pathogenesis of inflammatory diseases. In this study, we examined whether D. pteronissinus extract (DpE) induces the expression of monocyte chemotactic protein 1 (MCP-1)/CCL2, IL-8/CXCL8, and IL-6 that mediate in the infiltration and activation of immune cells and in its signaling mechanism in the human eosinophilic cell line, EoL-1. DpE increased the mRNA and protein expression of MCP-1, IL-8, and IL-6 in a time- and dose-dependent course in EoL-1 cells. In our experiments using signal-specific inhibitors, we found that the increased expression of MCP-1, IL-8, and IL-6 due to DpE is associated with Src family tyrosine kinase and protein kinase C $\delta$ (PKC $\delta$). In addition, the activation of extracellular signal-regulated kinase (ERK) is required for MCP-1 and IL-8 expression while p38 mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) is involved in IL-6 expression. DpE induced the phosphorylation of ERK and p38 MAPK. PP2, an inhibitor of Src family tyrosine kinase, and rottlerin, an inhibitor of PKC $\delta$, blocked the activation of ERK and p38 MAPK. DpE induces the activation of ERK and p38 MAPK via Src family tyrosine kinase and PKC $\delta$ for MCP-1, IL-8, or IL-6 production. Increased cytokine release due to the house dust mite and the characterization of its signal transduction may be valuable in understanding the eosinophil-related pathogenic mechanism of inflammatory diseases.

• Korean Journal of Veterinary Research
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• v.45 no.1
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• pp.105-111
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• 2005

Canine sarcoptic mite (Sarcoptes scabiei var. canis) is ectoparasite which burrow usually in the stratum corneum of the skin of dogs. Antigens from the burrowing mites induce humoral and cellmediated immune responses in the hosts. The effect of antigenecity induced by somatic antigens of house dust mite (Dermatophagoides pteronyssinus) isolated by continuous elution has been evaluated in canine sarcoptic mites infestation. Continuous elution was carried out in 7.5% SDS-PAGE to isolate proteins of common antigens from somatic antigens of house dust mite. These eluted proteins from somatic antigens of house dust mite were confirmed by Western blotting in 7.5% SDS-PAGE, and eluted proteins (65, 60 kDa) were isolated. To evaluate the antigenetic effect of eluted proteins, eight dogs were divided as 4 groups such as non-vaccinated and non-challenged control (Group I), challenged control (Group II), vaccinated (Group III), and vaccinatedandchallenged (Group IV) groups. Group II and IV were artificially infested canine sarcoptic mites. Group III and IV were immunized with eluted proteins (65, 60 kDa). At the 6th week of the vaccination, the antibody titers of Group of IV were statistically significant higher than those of Group II (p<0.05). And antibody titers of Group III were also statistically significant higher than those of Group I (p<0.05). From these result, it is possible to replace somatic antigens of canine sarcoptic mites with eluted proteins from somatic antigens of house dust mites in order to diagnose and prevent the canine sarcoptic mite infestations.

• Journal of Physiology & Pathology in Korean Medicine
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• v.32 no.6
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• pp.396-402
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• 2018

Hataedock (HTD) treatment is a traditional preventive therapy for the fetal toxicosis- the acute allergic disease after childbirth, mainly manifested by a variety of skin allergies such as scab, phlegm. The aim of this study was to investigate the efficacy of HTD treatments for the alleviation of inflammation in Dermatophagoides farinae-induced obese NC/Nga mice. 20 mg/kg of Coptidis Rhizoma, Glycyrrhizae Radix (CRGR) extracts as a remedy of HTD treatments were orally administered to NC/Nga mice. We induced obesity in the mice by high-fat diet. To induce skin allergies, the extracts of Dermatophagoides farinae were topically applied on the NC/Nga mice at 4th-6th and 8th-10th weeks. Structural and molecular changes in the skin tissues were measured by immunohistochemical staining. HTD treatment decreased the atopic dermatitis (AD)-like symptoms including hemorrhage, erythema, erosion, edema, and dryness. HTD treatment suppressed the mast cell activation confirmed by reduction of $Fc{\varepsilon}RI$, substance P, and serotonin. The expression of several inflammatory mediators including nuclear factor-kappa B ($NF-{\kappa}B$) p65, inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS), vascular endothelial growth factors (VEGFs) was also decreased by HTD treatment. HTD treatment suppressed the allergic, inflammatory responses in the skin tissues of the NC/Nga mice by reducing mast cells and down-regulating several inflammatory mediators.

• The Journal of Korean Medicine
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• v.39 no.4
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• pp.74-85
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• 2018

Objectives: HTD treatment is a traditional preventive therapy for neonatal inflammatory diseases such as AD. The aim of this study was to investigate the efficacy of HTD treatments for the maintenance and formation of lipid barrier in Dermatophagoides farina-induced obese NC/Nga mice. Methods: 20 mg/kg of CRGR extracts as HTD treatments were orally administered to NC/Nga mice. To induce obesity, high fat diet was served. Dermatophagoides farina extracts was applied on the 4th-6th and 8th-10th weeks to induce AD-like skin lesions in NC/Nga mice. Changes of skin conditions in mice were observed by histochemistry and immunohistochemistry. Results: The results showed that HTD treatments effectively maintained and formed the lipid barrier. In the experimental groups, restorations of Lass2 expression and distributions of filaggrin, involucrin, loricrin, ASM, and LXR means that HTD treatments maintained and generated the lipid barrier. In the dermal papillae, HTD treatments reduced PKC production accompanied by epidermis damage. Furthermore, levels of IL-4, and STAT6 was low. HTD treatment may be effective for preventing inflammation induced by Th2-skewed condition by suppressing the main pathway of Th2 differentiation. Conclusions: HTD treatment alleviated the inflammatory damage in the skin tissues of the NC/Nga mice by maintaining the lipid barrier and suppressing Th2 differentiation.

• Clinical and Experimental Pediatrics
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• v.51 no.8
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• pp.868-873
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• 2008

Purpose : Immunotherapy is accepted as the only treatment of allergic disease that can modify the natural course of the disease and ameliorate symptoms. This study aimed to evaluate the safety and efficacy of ultra-rush therapy using Dermatophagoides extracts in children. Methods : Of children older than four years who had visited Bundang CHA Pediatric Allergy Clinic, those showing positive reactions only to Dermatophagoides in the skin prick test and to the nasal provocation test were included. In all, 11 and 12 patients respectively preferred conventional and ultra-rush immunotherapy. We elevated allergen concentrations diluted to 1,000:1 of the end strength by 2-3 times with 30-minute intervals and checked oxygen saturation, pulse rate, blood pressure, and systemic reactions every 15 minutes. Immunotherapy effectiveness was valued by changes in nasal provocation test scores before and after immunotherapy. Results : The average ages of patients in the conventional and ultra-rush immunotherapy groups were $8.3{\pm}2.3$ and $9.2{\pm}2.8years$, respectively. Systemic reactions were observed in six in the ultra-rush group (50%) without anaphylaxis and one (9%) in the conventional group. The average scores in the nasal provocation test before and after treatment in the conventional group were $8.2{\pm}1.5$ and $4.6{\pm}2.1$, respectively (P=0.043). In the ultra-rush immunotherapy group, the scores changed from $6.2{\pm}2.2$ to $3.7{\pm}2.5$ (P=0.017). Conclusion : Ultra-rush immunotherapy using Dermatophagoides in children is effective for treating allergic disease but can induce systemic effects rather than conventional immunotherapy.

• 한국생물공학회:학술대회논문집
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• 2005.04a
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• pp.450-451
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• 2005

• Proceedings of the Korean Society of Applied Entomolohy Conference
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• 2002.05a
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• pp.110-110
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• 2002