The effect of Bacillus Calmette-Guerin in a mouse model of allergic rhinitis.
OBJECTIVE
To develop an allergic rhinitis model via local sensitization of mice with Dermatophagoides pteronyssinus and to use the model to investigate the antiallergic effect of Bacillus Calmette-Guerin (BCG).


METHODS
BALB/c mice were randomized to the allergic rhinitis group, the BCG group sensitized with D pteronyssinus via local sensitization for 7 weeks, or the control group. The BCG group received 1 x 10(5) colony-forming unit/mL of BCG seven times. We evaluated symptoms, nasal mucosa eosinophilia, serum total IgE, cytokines, and eosinophilia in bronchoalveolar lavage fluid.


RESULTS
In the allergic rhinitis group, allergy symptoms (P < 0.001), eosinophil count (P < 0.001), total IgE (P < 0.001), inflammatory cells (P < 0.01), and IL-13 (P = 0.046) increased and interferon gamma (IFN-gamma) (P < 0.001) decreased compared with the control group. In the BCG group, allergy symptoms (P < 0.001), eosinophil count (P < 0.001), and inflammatory cells (P < 0.01) decreased and IFN-gamma (P = 0.031) increased compared with the allergic rhinitis group.


CONCLUSIONS
In an allergic rhinitis animal model developed via local sensitization of mice with D pteronyssinus, BCG was shown to exhibit an antiallergic effect.
Kim
Soo Whan
SW
Department of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, College of Medicine, The Catholic University of Korea, Seoul, South Korea.
Yeo
Sang Won
SW
D000818:Animals; D001500:BCG Vaccine / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000494:pharmacology*; D018893:Bronchoalveolar Lavage; D040001:Dermatophagoides farinae / Q000187:drug effects / Q000276:immunology; D040002:Dermatophagoides pteronyssinus / Q000187:drug effects / Q000276:immunology; D004195:Disease Models, Animal; D004804:Eosinophils / Q000378:metabolism; D007073:Immunoglobulin E / Q000097:blood / Q000187:drug effects*; D007371:Interferon-gamma / Q000187:drug effects*; D008214:Lymphocytes / Q000187:drug effects; D008264:Macrophages / Q000187:drug effects; D051379:Mice; D008807:Mice, Inbred BALB C; D009297:Nasal Mucosa / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D009504:Neutrophils / Q000187:drug effects; D011897:Random Allocation; D006255:Rhinitis, Allergic, Seasonal / Q000276:immunology* / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D018709:Statistics, Nonparametric
D001500:BCG Vaccine; D007073:Immunoglobulin E; D007371:Interferon-gamma