Mucosal IFN-gamma gene transfer inhibits pulmonary allergic responses in mice.
Th2 cytokines are associated with the airway inflammation and hyperreactivity in allergic asthma and are potential targets for developing novel therapies. The efficacy of a mucosal cytokine-gene transfer approach was examined in a mouse model for allergic asthma. We showed first that mucosal IFN-gamma gene transfer results in a significant expression of IFN-gamma in the pulmonary epithelium. Significantly, this approach inhibits both Ag- and Th2-cell-induced pulmonary eosinophilia and airway hyperreactivity. These findings suggest that mucosal IFN-gamma gene transfer is effective in modulating pulmonary allergic responses and provides a basis for developing a novel therapeutic approach.
Li
X M
XM
Johns Hopkins Asthma and Allergy Center, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, MD 21224, USA.
Chopra
R K
RK
Chou
T Y
TY
Schofield
B H
BH
Wills-Karp
M
M
Huang
S K
SK
D000818:Animals; D000941:Antigens; D001249:Asthma / Q000276:immunology / Q000628:therapy; D001483:Base Sequence; D001992:Bronchoalveolar Lavage Fluid / Q000276:immunology; D003207:Conalbumin / Q000276:immunology; D017931:DNA Primers / Q000235:genetics; D004195:Disease Models, Animal; D015870:Gene Expression; D018014:Gene Transfer Techniques; D005822:Genetic Vectors; D006967:Hypersensitivity; D007371:Interferon-gamma / Q000235:genetics*; D008168:Lung / Q000276:immunology*; D008297:Male; D051379:Mice; D008806:Mice, Inbred AKR; D009092:Mucous Membrane / Q000276:immunology; D010957:Plasmids / Q000235:genetics; D018418:Th2 Cells / Q000276:immunology
D000941:Antigens; D017931:DNA Primers; D003207:Conalbumin; D007371:Interferon-gamma