Bed Bug Saliva Causes Release of Monocytic Inflammatory Mediators: Plausible Cause of Cutaneous Bite Reactions

ORCID

Goddard: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-2617-7141

MSU Affiliation

College of Agriculture and Life Sciences; Department of Biochemistry, Molecular Biology, Entomology and Plant Pathology

Creation Date

2026-10-30

Abstract

Bed bugs may cause mild to severe cutaneous reactions. We studied the ability of bed bug salivary extract (SGE) to induce inflammatory reactions responsible for cutaneous manifestations and found that SGE stimulated the production of several potent chemokines and cytokines from macrophages. Chemokines induced by SGE included those known to recruit eosinophils (eotaxin), attract neutrophils [interleukin (IL)-8] or induce their survival and proliferation (granulocyte colony-stimulating factor). Cytokines involved in cell-mediated immunity, including IL-7, IL-10 and IL-12, were also induced. Saliva of bed bugs contains protein and non-protein molecules that have pleotropic effects on macrophages, orchestrating the immune response in the skin after bed bug bites. Copyright © 2013 S. Karger AG, Basel.

Keywords

allergen exposure, allergen quantification, bed bugs, bite reactions, cell-mediated reactions, chemokines, Churg-Strauss vasculitis, cytokines, insect allergy

Publication Date

1-23-2013

Publication Title

International Archives of Allergy and Immunology

Publisher

Karger Publishers

First Page

127

Last Page

130

Rights

Copyright © 2013 S. Karger AG, Basel

Link to Full Text

Share

COinS
 

Digital Object Identifier (DOI)

https://doi.org/10.1159/000345134