The Acari Hypothesis, II: Interspecies Operability of Pattern Recognition Receptors

Retzinger, Andrew C.; Retzinger, Gregory S.

doi:10.3390/pathogens10091220

Cited by 4 publications

(6 citation statements)

References 66 publications

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“…Assuming the mechanics of IgE-mediated immunity are conserved among all mammalian species and, as posited by The Hypothesis, α-gal hypersensitivity in susceptible hosts develops following tick-directed “infusion” of α-gal-bearing material ( 2 ), only catarrhine primates should develop α-gal hypersensitivity. This raises the possibilities: (1) evolutionary pressure from acarians drove the expression of α-gal in mammalian lineages, and (2) catarrhine primates that ceased to express α-gal evolved an alternative means by which to deal with acarians.…”

Section: Blood Types α-Gal and Eccrine Glandsmentioning

confidence: 99%

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The Acari Hypothesis, IV: revisiting the role of hygiene in allergy

Retzinger,

Retzinger

2024

Front. Allergy

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Allergy and its manifestations were first appreciated in the 1870 s. Today, the mechanism by which specific substances elicit allergic reactions remains poorly understood. This is problematic from a healthcare perspective because the prevalence of allergic disease and its societal costs are substantial. Regarding mechanistic understanding of allergy, a new proposal, The Acari Hypothesis, has been forwarded. The Hypothesis, borne from consideration of alpha-gal syndrome, postulates that acarians, i.e., mites and ticks, are operative agents of allergy. By way of their pathogenic payloads and salivary pattern recognition receptor(s), acarians potentiate in human hosts the generation of IgE against acarian dietary elements. Those elements account for most, if not all, known human allergens. Inasmuch as acarian—human interactions occur on human epithelial surfaces, it is to be expected factors that influence the presence and/or operation of acarians on those surfaces influence the expression of allergic diseases. In this report, it is proposed that two adaptations of catarrhine primates, i.e., Old World monkeys, apes and humans, evolved to deter acarian species: firstly, the expansion of eccrine glands across the entirety of body surface area, and, secondly, the secretion of sweat by those glands. Contemporary hygienic practices that reduce and/or disrupt the operation of eccrine glands are likely responsible for the increase in allergic disease seen today.

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Section: Blood Types α-Gal and Eccrine Glandsmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…The first installment of The Hypothesis makes the case that most allergens are elements of acarian diets ( 1 ). The second installment provides how such dietary elements, when transmitted to a human, elicit IgE ( 2 ). The third installment relates the first two to atopic dermatitis, the prototypical allergic disease ( 3 ).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

The Acari Hypothesis, IV: revisiting the role of hygiene in allergy

Retzinger,

Retzinger

2024

Front. Allergy

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“…What, then, drives the generation of IgE? As proposed previously, the chief determinant is pathogen transmission by an infesting acarian [ 2 ].…”

Section: Ige In Atopic Dermatitismentioning

confidence: 99%

“…The Acari Hypothesis posits IgE-mediated immunity is intended primarily to protect mammals against pathogen-bearing acarians, i.e., mites and ticks. Further, it theorizes the means by which such adaptive responses occur [ 1 , 2 ]. Importantly, The Hypothesis informs that most allergens derive from molecular species well-represented within the gastrointestinal contents of acarians, i.e., tropomyosin, profilin, EF-hand domains, etc.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Because a very significant percentage of AD patients make IgE against Malassezia [ 10 , 11 , 12 ], these commensal organisms of normal skin flora are ideally suited as eliciting allergen. According to The Hypothesis, IgE is made against materials complexed with an adjuvant-active acarian immune effector [ 2 ]. Complexation occurs within the gastrointestinal tract of the acarian, prior to transmittance.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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The Acari Hypothesis, III: Atopic Dermatitis

Retzinger

2022

Pathogens

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Atopic dermatitis is a chronic relapsing dermatopathology involving IgE against allergenic materials present on mammalian epithelial surfaces. Allergens are as diverse as pet danders, and polypeptides expressed by microbes of the mammalian microbiome, e.g., Malassezia spp. The Acari Hypothesis posits that the mammalian innate immune system utilizes pathogen-bound acarian immune effectors to protect against the vectorial threat posed by mites and ticks. Per The Hypothesis, IgE-mediated allergic disease is a specious consequence of the pairing of acarian gastrointestinal materials, e.g., allergenic foodstuffs, with acarian innate immune effectors that have interspecies operability. In keeping with The Hypothesis, the IgE profile of atopic patients should include both anti-acarian antibodies and specious antibodies responsible for specific allergy. Further, the profile should inform on the diet and/or environment of the acarian vector. In this regard, the prevalence of Demodex and Dermatophagoides on the skin of persons suffering from atopic dermatitis is increased. Importantly, the diets of these mites correspond well with the allergens of affected patients. In this report, roles for these specific acarians in the pathogenesis of atopic dermatitis are proposed and elaborated.

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The Acari Hypothesis, V: deciphering allergenicity

Retzinger,

Retzinger

2024

Front. Allergy

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The Acari Hypothesis posits that acarians, i.e., mites and ticks, are operative agents of allergy. It derived from observations that allergens are molecular elements of acarians or acarian foodstuffs. A corollary of The Hypothesis provides how acarian dietary elements are selected as allergens; namely, a pattern recognition receptor native to the acarian digestive tract complexes with dietary molecules problematic to the acarian. By virtue of its interspecies operability, the receptor then enables not only removal of the dietary elements by the acarian immune system, but also—should such a complex be inoculated into a human—production of an element-specific IgE. Because pattern recognition receptors bind to molecules problematic to the organism from which the receptors originate, it follows that molecules targeted by adaptive IgE, i.e., allergens, must be problematic to acarians. This claim is supported by evidence that host organisms, when infested by acarians, upregulate representative members of allergenic molecular families. Appreciation of the relationship between allergens and acarians provides insight well beyond allergy, shedding light also on the anti-acarian defenses of many living things, especially humans.

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The Acari Hypothesis, II: Interspecies Operability of Pattern Recognition Receptors

Cited by 4 publications

References 66 publications

The Acari Hypothesis, IV: revisiting the role of hygiene in allergy

The Acari Hypothesis, IV: revisiting the role of hygiene in allergy

The Acari Hypothesis, III: Atopic Dermatitis

The Acari Hypothesis, V: deciphering allergenicity

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