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PHENOTYPIC COMPARISON OF ALLERGIC AIRWAY RESPONSES TO HOUSE DUST MITE IN THREE RAT STRAINS
Citation:
Singh, P., M. J. Daniels, D. W. Winsett, J H. Richards, D L. Doerfler, G. E. Hatch, A. B. Adler, AND M I. Gilmour. PHENOTYPIC COMPARISON OF ALLERGIC AIRWAY RESPONSES TO HOUSE DUST MITE IN THREE RAT STRAINS. American Journal of Physiology - Lung Cellular and Molecular Physiology 284:L588-L598, (2003).
Description:
Abstract
Brown Norway (BN) rats develop a robust response to antigens in the lung characterized by a large increase in allergen-specific immune function and pulmonary eosinophilia. The objective of this study was to investigate alternative models by determining if other rat strains could be sensitized to house dust mite (HDM) antigen, and if the allergic disease process could be worsened with repeated allergen exposure. In general, BN rats sensitized by either subcutaneous or intratracheal routes exhibited increased pulmonary allergy compared to Sprague-Dawley (SD) and Lewis (L) rats. Multiple intratracheal allergen exposures incrementally increased HDM-specific immune function in BN rats, but progressively decreased eosinophil recruitment and markers of lung injury. SD rats had more moderate responses, while L rats were relatively unresponsive. Since BN rats developed stronger clinical hallmarks of allergic asthma under various immunization regimes, compared to SD and L rats, we conclude that the BN is the most appropriate strain for studying allergic asthma-like responses in rats. Phenotypic differences in response to HDM were associated with differences in the Th1/Th2 cytokine balance and antioxidant capacity.
Key Words: genetic variability, atopy, asthma