title: Long-term modulatory effect of Mycobacterium vaccae treatment on histopathologic changes in a murine model of asthma.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Mycobacteria are being investigated for modulation of inflammation in asthma and atopic disorders by eliciting particularly strong protective TH1 immune responses.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  To investigate the long-term effects of intratracheally administered Mycobacterium vaccae on an experimental murine model of asthma.
  
  
  METHODS
  BALB/c mice were placed in 4 groups: long-term M. vaccae, M. vaccae, asthma, and control groups. All groups but controls were sensitized intraperitoneally and challenged intratracheally with ovalbumin. The long-term M. vaccae and M. vaccae groups were treated with M. vaccae intratracheally simultaneously during challenges. Finally, mice in the long-term M. vaccae group were rechallenged with ovalbumin nebulization 24 days later. Evaluations of lung histopathologic findings and serum cytokine levels were performed.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Comparison of the long-term M. vaccae group with the asthma model group revealed that the number of hyperplasic goblet cells in small and large airways (small airway: P < .05; large airways: P < .01) and thickness of basement membrane in large airways were significantly less in the long-term M. vaccae group. Furthermore, numbers of hyperplasic goblet cells in small airways (P < .05) and basement membrane in the large airway (P < .05), as well as inflammation in small airways (P < .01), were significantly less in the M. vaccae group when compared with the asthma model group. Interferon-gamma secretion from splenocytes of the M. vaccae group was significantly higher than the asthma model and long-term M. vaccae groups.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Intratracheal administration of M. vaccae exerted a long-lasting ameliorating effect on airway histopathologic features of a murine asthma model.
authors.affiliation: Division of Pediatric Allergy and Immunology, Marmara University, Istanbul, Turkey.
authors.forename: Didem
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Yazi
authors.forename: Tunc
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Akkoc
authors.forename: Cevdet
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Ozdemir
authors.forename: Ozlem
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Yesil
authors.forename: Metin
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Aydogan
authors.forename: Recep
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Sancak
authors.forename: Nerin N
authors.initials: NN
authors.lastname: Bahceciler
authors.forename: Isil B
authors.initials: IB
authors.lastname: Barlan
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001249:Asthma / Q000276:immunology* / Q000473:pathology* / Q000517:prevention & control; D001485:Basement Membrane / Q000473:pathology; D016207:Cytokines / Q000276:immunology; D004195:Disease Models, Animal; D005260:Female; D020397:Goblet Cells / Q000473:pathology; D051379:Mice; D008807:Mice, Inbred BALB C; D009130:Muscle, Smooth / Q000473:pathology; D009161:Mycobacterium / Q000276:immunology*; D010047:Ovalbumin / Q000276:immunology; D013997:Time Factors
chemical_list: D016207:Cytokines; D010047:Ovalbumin