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RELATIVE POTENCY OF MOLD AND HOUSE DUST MITE EXTRACTS IN INDUCING ALLERGIC RESPONSES IN BALB/C MICE
Citation:
CHUNG, Y., L. B. COPELAND, AND M. D. WARD. RELATIVE POTENCY OF MOLD AND HOUSE DUST MITE EXTRACTS IN INDUCING ALLERGIC RESPONSES IN BALB/C MICE. Presented at American Academy of Allergy, Asthma and Immunology Annual Meeting 2007, San Diego, CA, February 23 - 27, 2007.
Description:
Rationale: Mold has been associated with the exacerbation of allergic asthma. However, its role in induction of allergic asthma is not clear. Using a previously developed mouse model for allergic asthma, we compared potencies of two fungal extracts (Metarhizium anisopliae [MACA] and Stachybotrys chartarum [SCE]) to house dust mite extract (HDM) - a well known causative agent for allergic asthma. Methods: The fungal protein extracts or house dust mite extract were administered by pharyngeal aspiration at several doses (2.5, 5, 10, 20, 40, and 80 µg) four times over a four-week period. Three days after the last exposure, serum and bronchoalveolar lavage fluid (BALF) were harvested. BALF total and differential cells were counted. Serum total and specific IgE were assessed by ELISA and rat basophilic leukemia cell assay, respectively. Results: Multiple exposures to HDM, SCE, or MACA caused dose-dependent increases in influx of immune cells, total IgE, and specific IgE. Eosinophil counts and total IgE levels were significantly increased in MACA-treated mice at 20 µg dose when compared to those of HDM-, SCE-treated mice. Specific IgE levels at 10% ß¿-hexosaminidase release were higher in HDM- and MACA-treated mice than in SCE-treated mice. Conclusions: Based on the levels of cellular influx and IgE in sera, MACA is as potent as HDM in inducing allergic responses where SCE is less potent than MACA and HDM in our mouse model for allergic asthma. Those parameters ¿ eosinophils, total and specific IgE - are useful tools in determining relative potency of allergens (This abstract does not reflect EPA policy.)