The BALB/c mouse as a model for immunological studies of microfilariae-induced pulmonary eosinophilia.
Tropical pulmonary eosinophilia (TPE) is believed to result from extreme immediate hypersensitivity to microfilariae localized in the pulmonary vasculature of some persons with lymphatic filariasis. Female BALB/c mice repeatedly immunized by ip injection of Brugia malayi microfilariae become amicrofilaremic within 24 hr of iv parasite challenge, whereas non-sensitized control animals remain patent for greater than 72 hr. Immunized, but not control mice, develop peripheral blood and pulmonary eosinophilia (2,000 cells/mm3 and 65,000 cells/bronchoalveolar lavage, respectively). Serum and bronchoalveolar lavage filarial-specific IgG antibodies are greater in sensitized mice than in controls (ELISA absorbance values 20- and 10-fold higher, respectively). Serum IgE antibody levels are also greater (P less than 0.01) in immunized parasite-challenged mice than in controls (mean cpm 125I-labeled anti-mouse IgE bound to B. malayi antigen-coated Sepharose beads: 7,852 vs. 1,741, respectively). This model exhibits several of the major features of human TPE: amicrofilaremia, elevated levels of serum IgG and IgE antibodies to microfilariae, and blood and pulmonary eosinophilia. This model may be useful in the examination of the role of filarial antigen-specific lymphoid cells and antibodies in regulating the pathologic responses to microfilariae trapped in the lung.
Egwang
T G
TG
Case Western Reserve University, Cleveland, Ohio.
Kazura
J W
JW
D000818:Animals; D000909:Antibodies, Helminth / Q000096:biosynthesis* / Q000097:blood; D001992:Bronchoalveolar Lavage Fluid / Q000276:immunology; D002009:Brugia / Q000276:immunology*; D004195:Disease Models, Animal; D005260:Female; D007073:Immunoglobulin E / Q000096:biosynthesis; D007074:Immunoglobulin G / Q000096:biosynthesis; D051379:Mice; D008807:Mice, Inbred BALB C; D008842:Microfilariae / Q000276:immunology; D011657:Pulmonary Eosinophilia / Q000276:immunology*
D000909:Antibodies, Helminth; D007074:Immunoglobulin G; D007073:Immunoglobulin E