title: Antibody to VLA-4, but not to L-selectin, protects neuronal M2 muscarinic receptors in antigen-challenged guinea pig airways.
abstract: Antigen challenge of sensitized guinea pigs decreases the function of inhibitory M2 muscarinic autoreceptors on parasympathetic nerves in the lung, potentiating vagally induced bronchoconstriction. Loss of M2 receptor function is associated with the accumulation of eosinophils around airway nerves. To determine whether recruitment of eosinophils via expression of VLA-4 and L-selectin is critical for loss of M2 receptor function, guinea pigs were pretreated with monoclonal antibodies to VLA-4 (HP1/2) or L-selectin (LAM1-116). Guinea pigs were sensitized and challenged with ovalbumin, and M2 receptor function was tested. In controls, blockade of neuronal M2 muscarinic receptors by gallamine potentiated vagally induced bronchoconstriction, while in challenged animals this effect was markedly reduced, confirming M2 receptor dysfunction. Pretreatment with HP1/2, but not with LAM1-116, protected M2 receptor function in the antigen-challenged animals. HP1/2 also inhibited the development of hyperresponsiveness, and selectively inhibited accumulation of eosinophils in the lungs as measured by lavage and histology. Thus, inhibition of eosinophil influx into the lungs protects the function of M2 muscarinic receptors, and in so doing, prevents hyperresponsiveness in antigen-challenged guinea pigs.
authors.affiliation: Department of Environmental Health Sciences, School of Hygiene and Public Health, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, Maryland 21205, USA.
authors.forename: A D
authors.initials: AD
authors.lastname: Fryer
authors.forename: R W
authors.initials: RW
authors.lastname: Costello
authors.forename: B L
authors.initials: BL
authors.lastname: Yost
authors.forename: R R
authors.initials: RR
authors.lastname: Lobb
authors.forename: T F
authors.initials: TF
authors.lastname: Tedder
authors.forename: D A
authors.initials: DA
authors.lastname: Steeber
authors.forename: B S
authors.initials: BS
authors.lastname: Bochner
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000941:Antigens / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D016084:Bronchoconstriction / Q000276:immunology; D002448:Cell Adhesion / Q000276:immunology; D004558:Electric Stimulation; D004804:Eosinophils / Q000276:immunology; D005260:Female; D006168:Guinea Pigs; D039041:Integrin alpha4beta1; D016023:Integrins / Q000276:immunology*; D019041:L-Selectin / Q000276:immunology*; D008168:Lung / Q000166:cytology / Q000276:immunology* / Q000294:innervation; D010047:Ovalbumin / Q000276:immunology; D043585:Receptor, Muscarinic M2; D016201:Receptors, Lymphocyte Homing / Q000276:immunology*; D011976:Receptors, Muscarinic / Q000276:immunology*; D014630:Vagus Nerve / Q000502:physiology
chemical_list: D000941:Antigens; D039041:Integrin alpha4beta1; D016023:Integrins; D043585:Receptor, Muscarinic M2; D016201:Receptors, Lymphocyte Homing; D011976:Receptors, Muscarinic; D019041:L-Selectin; D010047:Ovalbumin