Instead, they found a protein called phospholipase A2. Phospholipase is an enzyme that dust mites produce that breaks down skin cells, producing fat molecules the mites can digest. CD1a, it turns out, responds to those lipids — reacting to the house
dust mite’s dinner. Reacting, really, to the breakdown products of human skin.
This isn’t the first time that Ogg’s group has come across phospholipase A2. “Bee venom also contains phospholipase. In fact it contains massive amounts,” Ogg explains. Knowing that bee venom and dust mites have something in common helps
scientists to understand one of the ways that the immune system senses damage to
skin — and gives them another option to consider for treatment.
MORE:
https://www.sciencenews.org/blog/scicurious/here%E2%80%99s-how-dust-mites-give-dermatitis-sufferers-itch
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