Effect of interferon-gamma on antigen-induced eosinophil infiltration into the mouse airway.
OBJECTIVE
To investigate whether murine recombinant interferon-gamma (IFN-gamma) is capable of inhibiting antigen-induced eosinophil (EOS) infiltration into the mouse airway.


METHODS
BALB/c mice were sensitized and challenged repeatedly with ovalbumin (OVA) to develop an allergic airway inflammation model. The experimental mice were given injection of different doses of IFN-gamma. The numbers of EOS in bronchoalveolar lavage fluid (BALF) from each group were counted, and concentrations of interleukin (IL)-5 in supernatants of cultured spleen cells were detected.


RESULTS
In sensitized mice challenged with OVA 20 minutes once a day for 6 days, the number of BLAF EOS was 9.53 +/- 0.84 x 10(5)/ml. However, no EOS could be found in BALF from mice without OVA sensitization and challenge. In mice treated with IFN-gamma, doses of IFN-gamma (1.0 x 10(3), 1.0 x 10(4), 1.0 x 10(5)U/KG) produced 29.8% (P < 0.05), 55.7% (P < 0.01), and 69.0% (P < 0.01) inhibition of eosinophilia, respectively. The results also showed that IFN-gamma prevented antigen-induced EOS recruitment into airway accompanied be decrement of levels of IL-5 with a dose-related response.


CONCLUSIONS
IFN-gamma is capable of inhibiting EOS infiltration into mouse airway by inhibiting the production of IL-5. Our results suggested that IFN-gamma may be of value in treating asthma in human beings.
Shi
H
H
Department of Internal Medicine, First Affiliated Hospital, Guangxi Medical University, Nanning.
Zhong
X
X
Long
X
X
Chen
Y
Y
D000818:Animals; D000941:Antigens / Q000276:immunology*; D001249:Asthma / Q000276:immunology* / Q000473:pathology; D001992:Bronchoalveolar Lavage Fluid / Q000166:cytology; D004804:Eosinophils / Q000276:immunology*; D005260:Female; D007371:Interferon-gamma / Q000494:pharmacology*; D007958:Leukocyte Count / Q000187:drug effects; D051379:Mice; D008807:Mice, Inbred BALB C; D010047:Ovalbumin / Q000276:immunology; D011994:Recombinant Proteins
D000941:Antigens; D011994:Recombinant Proteins; D007371:Interferon-gamma; D010047:Ovalbumin