OBJECTIVETo investigate the method of development of allergic airway disease model in mice.

METHODSTen BALB/c mice were devided into the model group and the control group. Each group contained 5 mice. Ovalbumin (OVA) was used as allergen. OVA was emulsified with aluminum hydroxide and injected intraperitoneally for sensitization. Afterwards the mice from model group were challenged with aerosolized 5% OVA and subsequently instilled with OVA intranasally. For the blank control group the mice were sensitized and challenged with phosphate buffer saline (PBS). After final challenge, the nasal symptoms were scored, and mice were sacrificed for evaluation of eosinophilia of nasal septum, peribronchial inflammation and goblet cell hyperplasia. Mice serum was collected for measurement of OVA-specific IgE concentration, and levels of IL-4 and IL-5 from bronchoalveolar fluids were also tested.

RESULTSCompared with blank control mice, mice from model group displayed typical sneezing and nasal scratching symptoms. The histopathological changes, such as eosinophilia of nasal septum mucosa, infiltration of peribronchial inflammatory cells and hyperplasia of goblet cells were successfully induced by OVA sensitization and challenge. Moreover, mice in model group showed higher level of OVA-specific IgE in serum and IL-4 and IL-5 cytokines in bronchoalveolar fluids[mice from model group: IgE (1237.00 ± 153.20) pg/ml, IL-4 (46.50 ± 10.15) pg/ml, IL-5 (50.81 ± 11.41) pg/ml; mice from control group: IgE (191.90 ± 43.20) pg/ml, IL-4 (7.96 ± 1.80) pg/ml, IL-5 (7.53 ± 2.23) pg/ml;t value were 6.569, 3.738 and 3.724, respectively, all P < 0.05].

CONCLUSIONThe method using OVA as allergen could effectively develop a mouse model of allergic airway disease which could be used for pathogenesis study and drug effect evaluation.