Sequential development of airway hyperresponsiveness and acute airway obstruction in a mouse model of allergic inflammation.
BACKGROUND
Mouse models have been established mirroring key features of human bronchial asthma including airway hyperresponsiveness (AHR). Acute airway obstruction in response to an allergen challenge, however, remains to be demonstrated in these models.


OBJECTIVE
A mouse model of allergic lung inflammation was employed to analyze the development of specific (allergen-induced) and nonspecific (methacholine-induced) airway obstruction.


METHODS
Mice were sensitized to ovalbumin (OVA) and challenged with OVA aerosol twice each week during four weeks. Changes in lung functions were determined by noninvasive head-out body plethysmography. The development of acute airway obstruction after OVA challenge and AHR after methacholine aerosol application were assessed by a decrease in the mid-expiratory flow rate (EF(50)).


RESULTS
Two airway challenges were sufficient to induce AHR (5.7 vs. 15 mg/ml methacholine). Further OVA challenges reduced the baseline EF(50) from 1.85 to 1.20 ml/s (4th week) and induced acute airway obstruction. The OVA-induced obstruction was maximal in the 4th week (EF(50) = 0.91 ml/s).


CONCLUSIONS
The development of acute airway obstruction in allergen-sensitized mice was demonstrated by means of head-out body plethysmography. In our model, AHR was observed before the development of airway obstruction.
Neuhaus-Steinmetz
U
U
Institute of Laboratory Medicine and Pathobiochemistry, Charité Campus Virchow Clinic, Berlin, Germany.
Glaab
T
T
Daser
A
A
Braun
A
A
Lommatzsch
M
M
Herz
U
U
Kips
J
J
Alarie
Y
Y
Renz
H
H
D000402:Airway Obstruction / Q000139:chemically induced / Q000276:immunology / Q000503:physiopathology*; D000403:Airway Resistance; D000485:Allergens / Q000276:immunology; D000818:Animals; D001249:Asthma / Q000139:chemically induced / Q000276:immunology / Q000503:physiopathology*; D016535:Bronchial Hyperreactivity / Q000139:chemically induced / Q000276:immunology / Q000503:physiopathology*; D001985:Bronchial Provocation Tests; D004195:Disease Models, Animal; D004797:Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay; D005260:Female; D007073:Immunoglobulin E / Q000032:analysis; D007074:Immunoglobulin G / Q000032:analysis; D008448:Maximal Expiratory Flow Rate; D016210:Methacholine Chloride; D051379:Mice; D008807:Mice, Inbred BALB C; D010047:Ovalbumin / Q000276:immunology; D010993:Plethysmography, Whole Body; D013990:Tidal Volume
D000485:Allergens; D007074:Immunoglobulin G; D016210:Methacholine Chloride; D007073:Immunoglobulin E; D010047:Ovalbumin