Cellular responses to animal dander allergens are mediated by interactions between Allergen, Lipid and Toll-Like Receptors

Allergic responses can be triggered by a range of different proteins. The structure of many protein allergens is known, but there are no common features that explain why these should be allergens and how they are recognized by the host. Many allergens have the capacity to bind lipids. Recently the house dust mite protein Der p2 was shown to activate TLR4, by mimicking MD2, but it also sensitises the responses of TLR4 to its main ligand lipopolysaccharide (LPS). The dander protein Fel d1 is highly abundant indoors and is one of the commonest causes of cat allergy in people. Structurally it has an alpha helical st…