Role of mast cells in antigen-induced airway inflammation and bronchial hyperresponsiveness in rats.
The participation of mast cells in the induction of antigen-induced airway inflammation and bronchial hyperresponsiveness (BHR) to acetylcholine (ACh) was investigated using pharmacological agents and mast cell-deficient rats (Ws/Ws). A significant increase in the number of leukocytes in bronchoalveolar lavage fluid (BALF) and bronchial responsiveness to ACh were observed 24 h after antigen (ovalbumin) challenge in sensitized Brown-Norway (BN) rats. Disodium cromoglycate and terfenadine did not inhibit antigen-induced airway inflammation and BHR in sensitized BN rats. In contrast, cyclosporin A (CyA), FK-506 and prednisolone significantly inhibited antigen-induced airway inflammation and BHR in sensitized BN rats. In addition, disodium cromoglycate, terfenadine and prednisolone, but not CyA and FK-506, inhibited homologous passive cutaneous anaphylaxis in rats. Furthermore, a significant increase in the number of leukocytes in BALF and BHR was also observed in Ws/Ws rats 24 h after inhalation of antigen; however, the magnitude of BHR in Ws/Ws rats was lower than that in the congenic rats. These findings suggest that mast cells play a partial role in the development of antigen-induced BHR in rats and that the induction of BHR is barely suppressed by mast cell stabilizing agents.
Kawada
N
N
Department of Pharmacology, Gifu Pharmaceutical University, Japan.
Tanaka
H
H
Takizawa
T
T
Yamada
T
T
Takahashi
Y
Y
Masuda
T
T
Inagaki
N
N
Nagai
H
H
D000109:Acetylcholine / Q000494:pharmacology; D000818:Animals; D000893:Anti-Inflammatory Agents / Q000494:pharmacology; D016535:Bronchial Hyperreactivity / Q000276:immunology* / Q000473:pathology; D001992:Bronchoalveolar Lavage Fluid / Q000166:cytology; D004205:Cromolyn Sodium / Q000494:pharmacology; D016572:Cyclosporine / Q000494:pharmacology; D005260:Female; D007166:Immunosuppressive Agents / Q000494:pharmacology; D007249:Inflammation / Q000276:immunology* / Q000473:pathology; D007958:Leukocyte Count; D008407:Mast Cells / Q000276:immunology*; D010047:Ovalbumin / Q000276:immunology; D010323:Passive Cutaneous Anaphylaxis / Q000187:drug effects; D011239:Prednisolone / Q000494:pharmacology; D051381:Rats; D011914:Rats, Inbred BN; D017208:Rats, Wistar; D016559:Tacrolimus / Q000494:pharmacology; D016593:Terfenadine / Q000494:pharmacology
D000893:Anti-Inflammatory Agents; D007166:Immunosuppressive Agents; D016593:Terfenadine; D016572:Cyclosporine; D010047:Ovalbumin; D011239:Prednisolone; D000109:Acetylcholine; D004205:Cromolyn Sodium; D016559:Tacrolimus