Role of Mast Cells in a Aspergillus Murine Model of Allergic Rhinitis / 대한이비인후과학회지

ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: Mast cells are the main effector cells in the immediate phase of the allergic responses. To evaluate the role of mast cells on the development of allergen-induced eosinophilic inflammation in a murine model of allergic rhinitis(AR), we compared the responses of mast cell deficient (W/Wv) mice with congenial normal (W/W+) mice. MATERIALS AND METHOD: Mice were sensitized intranasally with an extract of Aspergillus fumigatue (Af) for 3 weeks, and challenged intranasally with a single dose (acute model) or single dose every day for 5 consecutive days (chronic model). Interleukin (IL)-5 in nasal lavage fluids (NLF), histologic examination and Af-specific immunoglobulins (Ig) were examined in W/Wv mice and W/W+mice. RESULTS: In the sensitized W/Wv mice, the number of eosinophils in the nasal mucosa and IL-5 in NLF after repeated allergen challenge were not significantly different from those of W/W+ mice. In contrast, the number of eosinophils in the nasal mucosa and IL-5 in NLF after single allergen challenge were partially attenuated in W/Wv mice. The levels of Af-specific IgE and IgG1 in both acute and chronic models were not different between W/Wv mice and W/W+ mice. CONCLUSION: These findings suggest that eosinophilic inflammation caused by repeated allergen challenge are independent of mast cells in this AR model.