OBJECTIVETo prepare a mouse model of asthma by sensitizing and challenging with house dust mite allergen Derp and evaluate its reliability by measuring airway allergy inflammation and airway responsiveness.

METHODSTwelve C57BL/6J mice were randomly divided into two groups: control and asthma model. Mice of the asthma model group were sensitized by intraperitoneal injection of house dust mite allergen Derp on the first and tenth days of the experiment. From the 17th day, the mice were challenged by intranasal Derp, once every other day, seven times. The control group was treated with normal sodium instead of Derp. Twenty-four hours after the last challenge, airway responsiveness was evaluated. Bronchoalveolar lavage and histological examination of the lung were performed.

RESULTSAirway resistance increased and dynamic lung compliance decreased significantly in the asthma model group as compared to the control group (P<0.01). When airway resistance increased by 25% and dynamic lung compliance decreased by 15%, the required metacholine concentration in the asthma model group was significantly lower than that in the control group (P<0.01). In the bronchoalveolar lavage fluid of the asthma model group, the number of total cells, absolute number of eosinophils (EOS) and the percentage of EOS in the total cell were significantly higher than those in the control group (P<0.01). Pulmonary pathological scores in the asthma model group were significantly higher than those in the control group (P<0.01). The asthma model group showed ultrastructural changes of bronchial and pulmonary arterioles. Goblet cells, mastocyte granules, and increased mucus were observed in the lung tissues of the asthma model group.

CONCLUSIONSA mouse model of asthma was prepared by sensitizing and challenging with house dust mite allergen Derp, with the characteristics of airway allergy inflammation and airway hypersensitivity reaction.