The effect of allergen-induced airway inflammation on airway remodeling in a murine model of allergic asthma.
OBJECTIVE
We examined the effect of airway inflammation on airway remodeling and bronchial responsiveness in a mouse model of allergic asthma.


METHODS
BALB/c mice were sensitized to ovalbumin (OA), and exposed to aerosolized OA (0.01, 0.1 and 1%). Twenty-four hours after the final antigen challenge, bronchial responsiveness was measured, and bronchoalveolar lavage (BAL) and histological examinations were carried out.


RESULTS
Repeated antigen exposure induced airway inflammation, IgE/IgG1 responses, epithelial changes, collagen deposition in the lungs, subepithelial fibrosis associated with increases in the amount of transforming growth factor (TGF)-beta1 in BAL fluid (BALF), and bronchial hyperresponsiveness to acetylcholine. The number of eosinophils in BALF was significantly correlated with TGF-beta1 production in BALF and the amount of hydroxyproline. Furthermore, significant correlations were found between these fibrogenic parameters and the bronchial responsiveness.


CONCLUSIONS
These findings demonstrated that in this murine model airway eosinophilic inflammation is responsible for the development of airway remodeling as well as bronchial hyperresponsiveness in allergic bronchial asthma.
Tanaka
H
H
Department of Pharmacology, Gifu Pharmaceutical University, Japan.
Masuda
T
T
Tokuoka
S
S
Komai
M
M
Nagao
K
K
Takahashi
Y
Y
Nagai
H
H
D000109:Acetylcholine / Q000494:pharmacology; D000485:Allergens / Q000633:toxicity*; D000818:Animals; D001249:Asthma / Q000209:etiology / Q000473:pathology*; D016535:Bronchial Hyperreactivity / Q000473:pathology; D001992:Bronchoalveolar Lavage Fluid / Q000166:cytology; D003094:Collagen / Q000493:pharmacokinetics; D016207:Cytokines / Q000096:biosynthesis; D004847:Epithelial Cells / Q000473:pathology; D005260:Female; D006909:Hydroxyproline / Q000378:metabolism; D006967:Hypersensitivity / Q000150:complications / Q000473:pathology*; D007073:Immunoglobulin E / Q000096:biosynthesis; D007074:Immunoglobulin G / Q000096:biosynthesis; D007136:Immunoglobulins / Q000096:biosynthesis / Q000235:genetics; D008168:Lung / Q000378:metabolism; D051379:Mice; D008807:Mice, Inbred BALB C; D012137:Respiratory System / Q000473:pathology*; D016212:Transforming Growth Factor beta / Q000378:metabolism
D000485:Allergens; D016207:Cytokines; D007074:Immunoglobulin G; D007136:Immunoglobulins; D016212:Transforming Growth Factor beta; D007073:Immunoglobulin E; D003094:Collagen; D000109:Acetylcholine; D006909:Hydroxyproline