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Implications of nasopharynx‐associated lymphoid tissue ( NALT ) in the development of allergic responses in an allergic rhinitis mouse model
Author(s) -
Kim D.Y.,
Fukuyama S.,
Nagatake T.,
Takamura K.,
Kong I. G.,
Yokota Y.,
Lee C. H.,
Kiyono H.
Publication year - 2012
Publication title -
allergy
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 3.363
H-Index - 173
eISSN - 1398-9995
pISSN - 0105-4538
DOI - 10.1111/j.1398-9995.2011.02782.x
Subject(s) - immunology , lymphatic system , medicine , allergy , allergic response , immunoglobulin e , antibody
Background Nasopharynx‐associated lymphoid tissue ( NALT ) serves as an important inductive site for mucosal immunity in the upper respiratory tract. Despite its importance in the mucosal immune system, little is known regarding the role of NALT in airway allergic immune responses. We aimed to elucidate the role of NALT in the induction of upper airway allergic responses in a mouse model. Methods Inhibitor of DNA binding/differentiation 2 ( I d2) −/− and I d2 +/− mice was exposed to the ovalbumin ( OVA )‐induced allergic rhinitis model, because the former resulted in the NALT deficiency. The allergic parameters, such as allergic symptoms, serum OVA ‐specific immunoglobulin E ( I g E ) levels, eosinophil infiltration, and cytokine profiles in the nasal mucosa, were compared between I d2 −/− and I d2 +/− groups. Results NALT ‐null, I d2 −/− mice displayed significantly lower allergic responses compared with I d2 +/− mice, as demonstrated by lower levels of allergic symptoms, serum OVA ‐specific I g E , eosinophilic infiltration, and local T h2 cytokine transcriptions. To determine which of two factors, that is, the absence of NALT or the alteration of immunocompetent cell populations caused by the I d2 deficiency, has a larger effect on the attenuated allergic immune responses in I d2 −/− mice, lethally irradiated I d2 −/− mice were engrafted with C 57 BL /6 wild‐type bone marrow cells and showed still significantly lower allergic immune responses compared with equally treated I d2 +/− mice. In addition, I g E class switch recombination‐associated molecules, such as ε immunoglobulin heavy‐chain germline gene transcript, ε m RNA , and activation‐induced cytidine deaminase m RNA , were detected in NALT from OVA ‐sensitized wild‐type mice. Conclusion These results show the critical role of NALT for the induction of allergic responses in the upper airway at least in part by means of class switching to I g E in situ .