Sequential development of airway hyperresponsiveness and acute airway obstruction in a mouse model of allergic inflammation

• Published in: International archives of allergy and immunology Vol. 121; no. 1; p. 57
• Main Authors: Neuhaus-Steinmetz, U, Glaab, T, Daser, A, Braun, A, Lommatzsch, M, Herz, U, Kips, J, Alarie, Y, Renz, H
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Switzerland 01-01-2000
• Subjects: Airway Obstruction - chemically induced; Airway Obstruction - immunology; Airway Obstruction - physiopathology; Airway Resistance; Allergens - immunology; Animals; Asthma - chemically induced; Asthma - immunology; Asthma - physiopathology; Bronchial Hyperreactivity - chemically induced; Bronchial Hyperreactivity - immunology; Bronchial Hyperreactivity - physiopathology; Bronchial Provocation Tests; Disease Models, Animal; Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay; Female; Immunoglobulin E - analysis; Immunoglobulin G - analysis; Maximal Expiratory Flow Rate; Methacholine Chloride; Mice; Mice, Inbred BALB C; Ovalbumin - immunology; Plethysmography, Whole Body; Tidal Volume
• ISSN: 1018-2438
• DOI: 10.1159/000024298

Mouse models have been established mirroring key features of human bronchial asthma including airway hyperresponsiveness (AHR). Acute airway obstruction in response to an allergen challenge, however, remains to be demonstrated in these models.
A mouse model of allergic lung inflammation was employed to analyze the development of specific (allergen-induced) and nonspecific (methacholine-induced) airway obstruction.
Mice were sensitized to ovalbumin (OVA) and challenged with OVA aerosol twice each week during four weeks. Changes in lung functions were determined by noninvasive head-out body plethysmography. The development of acute airway obstruction after OVA challenge and AHR after methacholine aerosol application were assessed by a decrease in the mid-expiratory flow rate (EF(50)).
Two airway challenges were sufficient to induce AHR (5.7 vs. 15 mg/ml methacholine). Further OVA challenges reduced the baseline EF(50) from 1.85 to 1.20 ml/s (4th week) and induced acute airway obstruction. The OVA-induced obstruction was maximal in the 4th week (EF(50) = 0.91 ml/s).
The development of acute airway obstruction in allergen-sensitized mice was demonstrated by means of head-out body plethysmography. In our model, AHR was observed before the development of airway obstruction.