The role of CD23 on allergen-induced IgE levels, pulmonary eosinophilia and bronchial hyperresponsiveness in mice.
BACKGROUND
The role of Immunoglobulin (Ig)E in inflammation is the subject of considerable study and a number of studies have shown conflicting evidence for its role in eosinophil recruitment and bronchial hyperresponsiveness in a number of murine models. The low affinity IgE receptor, CD23, is known to act as a negative regulator of IgE production and we have used knockout mice deficient in CD23 to investigate the role of IgE in eosinophil recruitment and bronchial hyperresponsiveness in a murine model of airway inflammation.


OBJECTIVE
To study the role of the low affinity FcepsilonII receptor, CD23 in IgE production, lung inflammation and bronchial hyperresponsiveness.


METHODS
Wild-type and CD23 knockout C57Bl/6 mice (CD23-/-) were immunized by intraperitoneal injection with ovalbumin on days 0 and 14 and challenged with aerosolized antigen on day 21 for a period of up to 1 week. Blood samples, bronchoalveolar lavage and lung tissue samples were obtained to determine serum IgE levels and inflammatory cell numbers, respectively. Furthermore, airway resistance was measured to increasing concentrations of aerosolized 5-hydroxytryptamine in order to evaluate the effect of CD23 deficiency on bronchial hyperresponsiveness to antigen challenge.


RESULTS
Sensitization of wild-type C57Bl/6 mice to ovalbumin resulted in elevated levels of total serum IgE and ovalbumin-specific IgE, which was significantly augmented in CD23 knockout C57Bl/6 mice (CD23-/-). A significant increase in the percentage of eosinophils recovered in bronchoalveolar lavage fluid from wild-type and CD23-/- mice was observed 24 h following 3 or 7 days aerosol exposure with ovalbumin (10 mg/mL). At 3 days, the increase in the percentage of eosinophils was significantly greater in CD23-/- groups. Immunohistochemical analysis of lungs sections revealed the presence of CD3+, CD4+ and CD23+ cells in wild-type mice but a lack of immunofluorescence of CD23+ cells in CD23-/- mice. In wild-type ovalbumin-immunized mice, bronchial hyperresponsiveness to aerosolized 5-hydroxytryptamine was observed following a 3-day antigen challenge, which was significantly greater in CD23-/- ovalbumin-immunized mice.


CONCLUSIONS
These studies demonstrate that CD23-/- mice have increased capacity to produce IgE consistent with the view of a negative feedback role for membrane-bound CD23 and under such conditions, may account for the greater numbers of eosinophils recruited to the airways and bronchial hyperresponsiveness observed following acute but not chronic antigen challenge.
Riffo-Vasquez
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Y
The Sackler Institute of Pulmonary Pharmacology, Division of Pharmacology and Therapeutics, GKT School of Biomedical Sciences, King's College London, UK.
Spina
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Thomas
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M
Gilbey
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Kemeny
D M
DM
Page
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CP
D000485:Allergens / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D000818:Animals; D016535:Bronchial Hyperreactivity / Q000276:immunology* / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D001992:Bronchoalveolar Lavage Fluid / Q000276:immunology; D007073:Immunoglobulin E / Q000097:blood / Q000378:metabolism*; D051379:Mice; D008810:Mice, Inbred C57BL; D018345:Mice, Knockout; D011657:Pulmonary Eosinophilia / Q000276:immunology* / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D017455:Receptors, IgE / Q000502:physiology*; D020545:Respiratory Mucosa / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology
D000485:Allergens; D017455:Receptors, IgE; D007073:Immunoglobulin E