Strain-specific phenotypes of airway inflammation and bronchial hyperresponsiveness induced by epicutaneous allergen sensitization in BALB/c and C57BL/6 mice.
BACKGROUND
Allergen sensitization through a disrupted skin barrier appears to play a prominent role in the development of atopic diseases, including allergic asthma. The role of the genetic background in immunological and physiological phenotypes induced by epicutaneous sensitization is undetermined.


METHODS
BALB/c and C57BL/6 mice were sensitized either epicutaneously by patch application of ovalbumin (OVA) or systemically by intraperitoneal injection of OVA with alum before exposure to aerosolized OVA. The concentrations of OVA-specific immunoglobulin in serum and cytokines in bronchoalveolar lavage fluid (BALF) were measured by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. The severity of airway inflammation was evaluated by cell counts in BALF, and bronchial responsiveness to methacholine was measured by the flexiVent system.


RESULTS
The production of OVA-specific IgG1 and IgE was greater in the epicutaneously sensitized BALB/c than C57BL/6 mice. In contrast, both eosinophilic airway inflammation and bronchial responsiveness to methacholine were more prominent in the C57BL/6 than in the BALB/c mice. The concentrations of interleukin-4 increased significantly in the BALF from C57BL/6 mice only. No between-strain differences were observed after intraperitoneal sensitization.


CONCLUSIONS
The C57BL/6 mouse is a more appropriate model than the BALB/c mouse to study the relationship between skin barrier dysfunction and the pathogenesis of allergic asthma.
Division of Pulmonary Medicine, Department of Medicine, Keio University School of Medicine, Tokyo, Japan.
Motohiro
M
Kodama
Koichiro
K
Asano
Tsuyoshi
T
Oguma
Shizuko
S
Kagawa
Katsuyoshi
K
Tomomatsu
Misa
M
Wakaki
Takahisa
T
Takihara
Soichiro
S
Ueda
Nao
N
Ohmori
Hiromi
H
Ogura
Jun
J
Miyata
Kyuto
K
Tanaka
Nobufumi
N
Kamiishi
Koichi
K
Fukunaga
Koichi
K
Sayama
Eiji
E
Ikeda
Taku
T
Miyasho
Akitoshi
A
Ishizaka
D000403:Airway Resistance / Q000502:physiology; D000485:Allergens / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000276:immunology*; D000818:Animals; D001249:Asthma / Q000235:genetics* / Q000276:immunology* / Q000378:metabolism / Q000503:physiopathology; D016535:Bronchial Hyperreactivity / Q000235:genetics* / Q000276:immunology* / Q000378:metabolism / Q000503:physiopathology; D001985:Bronchial Provocation Tests; D001992:Bronchoalveolar Lavage Fluid / Q000737:chemistry / Q000166:cytology; D002452:Cell Count; D004804:Eosinophils / Q000166:cytology; D007114:Immunization; D007073:Immunoglobulin E / Q000097:blood / Q000276:immunology; D007074:Immunoglobulin G / Q000097:blood / Q000276:immunology; D007249:Inflammation / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D007371:Interferon-gamma / Q000032:analysis / Q000378:metabolism; D007378:Interleukins / Q000032:analysis / Q000378:metabolism; D007962:Leukocytes / Q000166:cytology; D008297:Male; D051379:Mice; D008807:Mice, Inbred BALB C; D008810:Mice, Inbred C57BL; D010047:Ovalbumin / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000276:immunology; D010641:Phenotype
D000485:Allergens; D007074:Immunoglobulin G; D007378:Interleukins; D007073:Immunoglobulin E; D007371:Interferon-gamma; D010047:Ovalbumin