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Dissociation of airway responsiveness and bronchoalveolar lavage (BAL) cell composition in sensitized guinea–pigs after daily inhalation of ovalbumin
Author(s) -
HEUER H. O.,
WENZ B.,
JENNEWEIN H. M.,
URICH K.
Publication year - 1994
Publication title -
clinical and experimental allergy
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.462
H-Index - 154
eISSN - 1365-2222
pISSN - 0954-7894
DOI - 10.1111/j.1365-2222.1994.tb00973.x
Subject(s) - ovalbumin , bronchoalveolar lavage , inhalation , medicine , immunology , guinea pig , airway , lung , anesthesia , antigen
Summary. The association between inflammatory cell influx, cell activation status and change of airway responsiveness to acelylcholine (ACh) after daily inhalation of ovalbumin (OA) in sensitized guinea–pigs was investigated. Starting 3 weeks after sensitization (OA at 50mg/kg s.c. + i.p.) guinea–pigs were exposed daily to 2% OA (10min: undercover of 0.5Smg/kg mepyramine i.p. 15min before OA) for 2 weeks. Concentration–response curves (CRCs) for inhaled ACh were performed 24 h after the last OA–challenge and 24 h after another single OA–inhalation 1 week later. CRCs for inhaled ACh were neither affected 24 h after the last OA challenge (daily for two weeks) nor 24 h after another OA–inhalation one week later. In contrast, bronchoalveolar lavage (BAL) from repeatedly OA– sensitized/–challenged guinea–pigs immediately after the last CRC showed a significant increase of total cell count by about tenfold and increases in eosinophils by about 20–fold, neutrophils by 30–fold, macrophages by about fivefold and lymphocytes by about tenfold ( P < 0.05. multiple Wilcoxon–test). In contrast, markers of cell activation (EPO, MPO) were significantly decreased ( P < 0.05). Methylprednisolone almost completely prevented these changes in increased cell numbers and decreased cell activation (vs OA contr., P < 0.05). The lack of increased airway hyperresponsiveness despite a massive inflammatory cell influx suggests other factors controlling airway responsiveness than inflammation.