Secretory products from infective forms of Nippostrongylus brasiliensis induce a rapid allergic airway inflammatory response

Immunol Cell Biol. 2005 Feb;83(1):40-7. doi: 10.1111/j.1440-1711.2004.01303.x.

Abstract

Allergic asthma is responsible for widespread morbidity and mortality and its incidence has increased dramatically in industrialized countries over the past two decades. Here, we describe a new murine model of allergic asthma utilizing a novel allergen with intrinsic enzymatic activity similar to that reported for many environmental allergens. The allergen, NES, is excreted and secreted from the nematode Nippostrongylus brasiliensis, and can readily be isolated from in vitro parasite cultures. When NES is administered intranasally to presensitized mice, allergic airway disease develops, including airway hyper-responsiveness, airway eosinophilia, IgE antibody production and Th2 cytokine production. This disease is characteristic of atopic asthma and can be induced within 11 days, thus providing a platform for the rapid analysis of allergic disease and high throughput testing of immunomodulatory factors.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Allergens / administration & dosage
  • Allergens / pharmacology
  • Animals
  • Antigens, Helminth / immunology
  • Antigens, Helminth / pharmacology*
  • Asthma / etiology*
  • Asthma / immunology
  • Asthma / parasitology
  • Cytokines / biosynthesis
  • Disease Models, Animal
  • Eosinophilia / chemically induced
  • Eosinophilia / immunology
  • Hypersensitivity / etiology*
  • Immunoglobulin E / immunology
  • Inflammation / chemically induced
  • Inflammation / immunology
  • Mice
  • Mice, Inbred C57BL
  • Nippostrongylus / pathogenicity*
  • Respiratory System / immunology
  • Respiratory System / pathology
  • Strongylida Infections / complications*
  • Th2 Cells / immunology

Substances

  • Allergens
  • Antigens, Helminth
  • Cytokines
  • Immunoglobulin E