title: Exposure to hypergravity increases serum interleukin-5 and pulmonary infiltration in mice with allergic asthma.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  We evaluated the effect of acute hypergravity (HG) on the immune response in a murine model of allergic asthma.
  
  
  METHODS
  Twenty-eight BALB/c mice were used. Group A (control group, n = 7) mice were sensitized and challenged with normal saline. Group B (control HG exposure group, n = 7) mice were sensitized, challenged with saline, and exposed to acute HG (+10 Gz) for 4 hours. Group C (asthma group, n = 7) mice were challenged with intraperitoneal and intranasal ovalbumin (OVA) to induce asthma. Group D (asthma HG exposure group, n = 7) mice were exposed to HG for 4 hours after the induction of asthma. We estimated the total and OVA-specific serum IgE, serum titers of various cytokines, and the number of eosinophils, neutrophils, and lymphocytes in bronchoalveolar lavage (BAL) fluid. Histopathology of the lung was also evaluated.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The serum level of interleukin (IL)-5 was significantly higher in Group D (12.9 ±4.9 pg/ml) compared to that in Group C (4.7 ±6.5 pg/ml, p = 0.017). In BAL fluid, the number of neutrophils was significantly increased in Group D compared to Group C (p = 0.014). Group D demonstrated a higher infiltration of inflammatory cells (9973.8 ±1642.7 cells/mm(2)) compared to Group C (7666.3 ±586.5 cells/mm(2), p = 0.017). This tendency of increase in infiltration was not significant in non-asthmatic animals (Group A: 4488.8 ±176.1 cells/mm(2) vs. Group B: 4946.3 ±513.7 cells/mm(2), p > 0.05).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Acute HG exacerbated the allergic response by increasing serum IL-5 levels and promoting pulmonary infiltration of inflammatory cells.
authors.affiliation: Inha University College of Medicine, Incheon, South Korea.
authors.forename: Tae Young
authors.initials: TY
authors.lastname: Jang
authors.affiliation: Inha University College of Medicine, Incheon, South Korea.
authors.forename: Kyu-Sung
authors.initials: KS
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.affiliation: Inha University College of Medicine, Incheon, South Korea.
authors.forename: Chang-Shin
authors.initials: CS
authors.lastname: Park
authors.affiliation: Aerospace Medical Center, South Korea.
authors.forename: Jeongku
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Lim
authors.affiliation: Aerospace Medical Center, South Korea.
authors.forename: Kang-Cheol
authors.initials: KC
authors.lastname: Huh
authors.affiliation: Inha University College of Medicine, Incheon, South Korea.
authors.forename: Min-Jeong
authors.initials: MJ
authors.lastname: Heo
authors.affiliation: Inha University College of Medicine, Incheon, South Korea.
authors.forename: Ah-Yeoun
authors.initials: AY
authors.lastname: Jung
authors.affiliation: Inha University College of Medicine, Incheon, South Korea.
authors.forename: Young Hyo
authors.initials: YH
authors.lastname: Kim
keywords: allergy; asthma; cytokines; hypergravity