Effect of sublingual immunotherapy on antigen-induced bronchial and nasal inflammation in mice.
BACKGROUND
Sublingual immunotherapy (SLIT) is effective in the treatment of a variety of allergic diseases, including bronchial asthma and rhinitis. However, how this local therapy exerts such wide effects is unclear. In this study, we comparatively examined the effect of SLIT on antigen-induced airway inflammation in bronchoalveolar and nasal cavities in mice.


METHODS
Mice were treated sublingually with ovalbumin (OVA) once a day for 2 weeks. Subsequently, they were immunized with the corresponding antigen. Following intratracheal and nasal challenge with OVA, infiltration of inflammatory cells into the bronchoalveolar and nasal cavities was investigated in these mice.


RESULTS
Massive infiltration of eosinophils as well as neutrophils into the bronchoalveolar cavity was induced by intratracheal OVA challenge. Eosinophils accumulated in the nasal cavity, but the number of neutrophils did not significantly change in response to nasal antigen challenge. These antigen-induced airway inflammatory responses, including the increases in the numbers of eosinophils and/or neutrophils in the bronchoalveolar and nasal cavities, were clearly suppressed by SLIT.


CONCLUSIONS
This animal model displaying differential inflammatory responses in the bronchoalveolar and nasal cavities may be useful to elucidate the efficacy and mechanisms of SLIT against various allergic diseases.
Clinical Research Center for Allergy and Rheumatology, National Hospital Organization, Sagamihara National Hospital, Kanagawa, Japan.
Osamu
O
Kaminuma
Kazuya
K
Suzuki
Akio
A
Mori
D000286:Administration, Sublingual; D000818:Animals; D000941:Antigens / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000276:immunology*; D001991:Bronchitis / Q000276:immunology / Q000473:pathology / Q000517:prevention & control*; D001992:Bronchoalveolar Lavage Fluid / Q000166:cytology; D003888:Desensitization, Immunologic; D004804:Eosinophils / Q000166:cytology; D005260:Female; D051379:Mice; D008807:Mice, Inbred BALB C; D017817:Nasal Lavage Fluid / Q000166:cytology; D009504:Neutrophils / Q000166:cytology; D010047:Ovalbumin / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000276:immunology; D012220:Rhinitis / Q000276:immunology / Q000473:pathology / Q000517:prevention & control*; D014611:Vaccination
D000941:Antigens; D010047:Ovalbumin