Korean J Otolaryngol-Head Neck Surg.  2006 Sep;49(9):912-967.

Role of Mast Cells in a Aspergillus Murine Model of Allergic Rhinitis

• Kang JM
• Cho JH
• Bang CI
• Park CS
• Shin JH
• Lee DH
• Lee HY

Abstract

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES
Mast cells are the main effector cells in the immediate phase of the allergic responses. To evaluate the role of mast cells on the development of allergen-induced eosinophilic inflammation in a murine model of allergic rhinitis(AR), we compared the responses of mast cell deficient (W/Wv) mice with congenial normal (W/W+) mice. MATERIALS AND METHOD: Mice were sensitized intranasally with an extract of Aspergillus fumigatue (Af) for 3 weeks, and challenged intranasally with a single dose (acute model) or single dose every day for 5 consecutive days (chronic model). Interleukin (IL)-5 in nasal lavage fluids (NLF), histologic examination and Af-specific immunoglobulins (Ig) were examined in W/Wv mice and W/W+mice.
RESULTS
In the sensitized W/Wv mice, the number of eosinophils in the nasal mucosa and IL-5 in NLF after repeated allergen challenge were not significantly different from those of W/W+ mice. In contrast, the number of eosinophils in the nasal mucosa and IL-5 in NLF after single allergen challenge were partially attenuated in W/Wv mice. The levels of Af-specific IgE and IgG1 in both acute and chronic models were not different between W/Wv mice and W/W+ mice.
CONCLUSION
These findings suggest that eosinophilic inflammation caused by repeated allergen challenge are independent of mast cells in this AR model.

Keyword

Mast cell; Allergic rhinitis; Animal model; Aspergillus

MeSH Terms

Animals
Aspergillus*
Eosinophils
Immunoglobulin E
Immunoglobulin G
Immunoglobulins
Inflammation
Interleukin-5
Interleukins
Mast Cells*
Mice
Models, Animal
Nasal Lavage Fluid
Nasal Mucosa
Rhinitis*
Immunoglobulin E
Immunoglobulin G
Immunoglobulins
Interleukin-5
Interleukins