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DOSE-DEPENDENT ALLERGIC RESPONSES TO AN EXTRACT OF PENICILLIUM CHRYSOGENUM IN BAL/C MICE
Citation:
CHUNG, Y., N. HAYKAL-COATES, M. VIANA, L. B. COPELAND, S. J. VESPER, M. K. SELGRADE, AND M. D. WARD. DOSE-DEPENDENT ALLERGIC RESPONSES TO AN EXTRACT OF PENICILLIUM CHRYSOGENUM IN BAL/C MICE. TOXICOLOGY. Elsevier Science Ltd, New York, NY, 209(1):77-89, (2005).
Impact/Purpose:
1. Develop and publish a standard method or guidance document for QPCR analysis of microorganisms in environmental samples (air and water filtrates and dust).a standard method or guidance document for QPCR analysis of microorganisms in environmental samples (air and water filtrates and dust). Publication will involve a consensus standards organization. 2. Use QPCR methods to monitor childhood exposures to mold as a part of field studies, in order to establish whether a relationship exists between molds encountered in indoor environments and asthma-related health problems.
Description:
Indoor mold has been associated with the development of allergic asthma. Penicillium chrysogenum, a common indoor mold, is known to have several allergens and can induce allergic responses in a mouse model of allergic penicilliosis. Our hypothesis is that soluble components of P. chrysogenum (PCE) can dose-dependently induce responses typical of allergic asthma in BALB/c mice. Mice were exposed to 10, 20, 50, or 70 µg of PCE by involuntary aspiration 4 times over a 4 week period. Serum and bronchoalveolar lavage fluid (BALF) were collected before (Day 0), and at Day 1 and 3 following the final exposure. PCE-exposed mice demonstrated dose-dependent increases in: BALF total cell numbers including eosinophil, serum and BALF total IgE levels, BALF IL-5 levels, and increased severity of histopathologic lesions. A single exposure to the highest dose of PCE resulted in edema and cellular damage but not immune responses. Four exposures to Metarhizium anisopliae crude antigen (10 µg, positive control) resulted in equivalent or greater allergic asthma-like responses than those demonstrated by multiple exposures to 50 or 70 µg of PCE. Multiple exposures to 70 µg of PCE showed increased allergen-triggered immediate respiratory responses as well as non-specific airway hyperresponsiveness to methacholine as assessed by barometric whole-body plethysmography. Taken together, repeated pulmonary challenge with P. chrysogenum extract induced dose-dependent allergic asthma-like responses in mice.