Prolonged ovalbumin challenge facilitates Th17 polarization in sensitized mice.
OBJECTIVE
In this study, we explored whether prolonged ovalbumin (OVA) exposure in sensitized mice created an environment suitable for Th17 differentiation.


METHODS
BALB/c and C57BL/6 mice (n = 36), after intraperitoneal OVA sensitization on days 0 and 12, received prolonged OVA aerosol challenges up to day 55. Airway inflammatory cell levels, cytokine profiles, and Th17 cell infiltration were evaluated after sacrifice.


RESULTS
Prolonged OVA challenge caused inflammation that was characterized by raised influxes of airway macrophages and neutrophils. Following long-term exposure, Th17 cytokines and Th17 cell numbers progressively increased in the lung (P < 0.05) along with increased production of Th17 polarization-related factors, including TGF-beta, IL-6, and IL-23. The lineage-specific transcription factor for Th17 subsets, RORgammat, displayed similar upregulation throughout the OVA challenge (P < 0.05).


CONCLUSIONS
Prolonged OVA challenge induces an environment that facilitates Th17 polarization.
Department of Respiratory Diseases, The First Affiliated Hospital of College of Medicine, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, People's Republic of China. shanhaiwq1983@yahoo.com.cn
Qing
Q
Wang
Hequan
H
Li
Zhiyuan
Z
Zhang
Yinan
Y
Yao
Jianying
J
Zhou
D000818:Animals; D016535:Bronchial Hyperreactivity / Q000276:immunology; D001992:Bronchoalveolar Lavage Fluid / Q000276:immunology; D002454:Cell Differentiation; D016764:Cell Polarity; D016207:Cytokines / Q000276:immunology*; D053759:Interleukin-23 / Q000276:immunology; D015850:Interleukin-6 / Q000276:immunology; D008168:Lung / Q000166:cytology / Q000187:drug effects / Q000276:immunology; D008297:Male; D051379:Mice; D008807:Mice, Inbred BALB C; D008810:Mice, Inbred C57BL; D057132:Nuclear Receptor Subfamily 1, Group F, Member 3 / Q000276:immunology; D010047:Ovalbumin / Q000276:immunology / Q000494:pharmacology*; D016176:T-Lymphocyte Subsets / Q000166:cytology / Q000187:drug effects / Q000276:immunology*; D006377:T-Lymphocytes, Helper-Inducer / Q000166:cytology / Q000187:drug effects / Q000276:immunology*; D016212:Transforming Growth Factor beta / Q000276:immunology
D016207:Cytokines; D053759:Interleukin-23; D015850:Interleukin-6; D057132:Nuclear Receptor Subfamily 1, Group F, Member 3; D016212:Transforming Growth Factor beta; D010047:Ovalbumin