Gender comparison in a murine model of allergen-driven airway inflammation and the response to budesonide treatment.
BACKGROUND
Evidence suggests that gender differences exist in the severity of many immunological diseases and their response to glucocorticosteroid treatment. In this report, we have used a murine model of ovalbumin-induced lung inflammation to address whether gender could affect the systemic response, airway inflammation and hyperreactivity and their responses to budesonide.


RESULTS
Following an acute ovalbumin challenge, actively sensitised BALB/c mice developed a time-dependent increase in interleukin-4 and interleukin-5 production and inflammatory cell influx into bronchoalveolar lavage fluid. Apart from an increased number of lymphocytes in female mice at day 3 post-challenge, none of the above parameters were affected by gender. Blood leukocyte numbers were also unaffected, whereas a two-fold increase in total serum immunoglobulin E was observed in female mice. Budesonide, given intranasally, did not affect the blood parameters, but dose-dependently inhibited the pulmonary inflammation and airway hyperreactivity in both male and female mice. Female mice were slightly less sensitive to budesonide's inhibitory action on interleukin-5 production and the development of airway hyperreactivity.


CONCLUSIONS
Our results suggest that, apart from a 2-fold increase in serum immunoglobulin E levels observed in female mice, gender is not a major factor in the present murine model of ovalbumin-induced lung inflammation. In contrast, gender might slightly influence the potency of test compounds such as steroids.
Corteling
Randolph
R
Respiratory Diseases Area, Novartis Institute for Biomedical Research, Horsham, UK. rcorteli@ucalgary.ca
Trifilieff
Alexandre
A
D000485:Allergens; D000818:Animals; D000893:Anti-Inflammatory Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D001772:Blood Cell Count; D016535:Bronchial Hyperreactivity / Q000097:blood / Q000139:chemically induced / Q000276:immunology / Q000517:prevention & control*; D018893:Bronchoalveolar Lavage; D019819:Budesonide / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D004195:Disease Models, Animal; D005260:Female; D005783:Gender Identity; D007073:Immunoglobulin E / Q000097:blood; D007249:Inflammation / Q000139:chemically induced / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000276:immunology; D008297:Male; D051379:Mice; D008807:Mice, Inbred BALB C
D000485:Allergens; D000893:Anti-Inflammatory Agents; D007073:Immunoglobulin E; D019819:Budesonide