Immune reactivity to mite allergens in nonatopic subjects: Immune deviation or immune ignorance

Most subjects without IgE to Dermatophagoides pteronyssinus do not have IgG to Der p 1 or Der p 2 las measured by RIA). However, by immunoblot or ELISA, IgG reactivity (mostly IgG1) to mite components is easily detectable. This discrepancy is caused largely by immune reactivity to mite components with a high molecular weight under native conditions (possibly mite gut flora cross-reactive with human gut flora) and partially by the presence of IgG with low affinity for fluid-phase antigen. We conclude that the pattern of IgG antibody in subjects without IgE to mites does not support the notion of immune deviation, but rather indicates a lack of a mite-induced high-affinity immune response. Copyright (C) 2001 S. Karger AG, Basel.