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Comparison of the Allergic Responses Induced by PeniciIlium chrysogenum and House Dust Mite Extracts in a Mouse Model
Citation:
WARD, M. D., Y. CHUNG, L. B. COPELAND, AND D. L. DOERFLER. Comparison of the Allergic Responses Induced by PeniciIlium chrysogenum and House Dust Mite Extracts in a Mouse Model. INDOOR AIR. Blackwell Publishing, Malden, MA, 20(5):380-91, (2010).
Impact/Purpose:
The data not only suggest that P. chrysogenum is more potent than HDM at the induction of allergic responses in a mouse model of allergic asthma but also suggest a sensitizing dose. Exposure to P. chrysogenum might easily exceed the sensitization threshold for a susceptible subpopulation in damp or water damaged buildings. This study in combination with our previous studies indicates the complex and diverse nature of molds including different capacities to a variety of adverse health effects associated with allergy and asthma.
Description:
A report by the Institute of Medicine suggested that more research is needed to better understand mold effects on allergic disease, particularly asthma development. We compared the ability of the fungal Penicillium chrysogenum (PCE) and house dust mite (HDM) extracts to induce allergic responses in BALB/c mice. The extracts were ministered by intratracheal aspiration (IA) at several doses (0, 2.5, 5, 10, 20, 40, and 80 Ilg) four times over a four-week period. Three days after the last IA exposure, serum and bronchoalveolar lavage fluid (BALF) were collected. The relative allergenicity of the extracts was evaluated based on the lowest dose able to induce a significant response compared to control (0 ug) and the robustness of the response. PCE induced the most robust response at the lowest dose for most endpoints examined: BALF total, macrophage, neutrophil, and eosinophil cell counts, and antigen-specific IgE. Taken together, our data suggest 12 that PCE induces a more robust allergic and inflammatory response at lower doses than HDM.
