Role of immunoglobulin E and mast cells in murine models of asthma

Abstract

Immunoglobulin E (IgE) and mast cells are believed to play important roles in allergic inflammation. However, their contributions to the pathogenesis of human asthma have not been clearly established. Significant progress has been made recently in our understanding of airway inflammation and airway hyperresponsiveness through studies of murine models of asthma and genetically engineered mice. Some of the studies have provided significant insights into the role of IgE and mast cells in the allergic airway response. In these models mice are immunized systemically with soluble protein antigens and then receive an antigen challenge through the airways. Bronchoalveolar lavage fluid from mice with allergic airway inflammation contains significant amounts of IgE. The IgE can capture the antigen presented to the airways and the immune complexes so formed can augment allergic airway response in a high-affinity IgE receptor (FcεRI)-dependent manner. Previously, there were conflicting reports regarding the role of mast cells in murine models of asthma, based on studies of mast cell-deficient mice. More recent studies have suggested that the extent to which mast cells contribute to murine models of asthma depends on the experimental conditions employed to generate the airway response. This conclusion was further supported by studies using FcεRI-deficient mice. Therefore, IgE-dependent activation of mast cells plays an important role in the development of allergic airway inflammation and airway hyperresponsiveness in mice under specific conditions. The murine models used should be of value for testing inhibitors of IgE or mast cells for the development of therapeutic agents for human asthma.

Cissampelos sympodialis Eichl. (Menispermaceae) inhibits anaphylactic shock reaction in murine allergic model

“…(-): Undetectable related to lower total and OVA-specifi c serum IgE levels. Elevated IgE levels are associated with immediate-type allergic reactions (Mayr;Zuberi;Liu, 2003). Our data suggest that the intraperitoneal AFL administration may have an anti-allergic activity through the decrease of IgE production.…”

“…Some types of immediate allergic reactions are now considered to be a disorder associated with increased of IgE levels (Mayr;Zuberi;Liu, 2003). IgE responses might be lethal due to mediators delivering such as histamine from mast cell sensitized with IgE and consequent anaphylactic shock reaction (Reviewed by Finkelman et al, 2005;Strait et al, 2002).…”

Cissampelos sympodialis (Menispermaceae): A Novel Phytotherapic Weapon Against Allergic Diseases?

“…Asthma reaction is an immediatetype reaction mediated mainly by IgE (Busse & Lemanski, 2001;Mayr, et al, 2003). The release of mediators associated with the inflammatory cells to the reaction site induces the clinical symptoms of asthma (Maddox & Schwartz, 2002) such as bronchocontraction, mucus production and the strangling sensation (Funk, 2001).…”

“…This illness is characterized by a reversible lower airway inflammation, airway hyperresponsivenss, mucus hypersecretion, leukocyte recruitment to lung tissue and airway remodeling that might cause respiratory deficits. Increased prevalence and difficulties in asthma control are responsible for the elevated costs to health systems around the world (Busse & Lemanski, 2001;Mayr et al, 2003;Bateman et al, 2008). During asthmatic crises, patients develop an intense breathing difficulty called airway hyperreactivity (AHR).…”

Establishing the phenotype in novel acute and chronic murine models of allergic asthma

“…Mast cell activation in the EAR provokes the induction of eosinophil infiltration and the appearance of AHR [11,35]. Dual responder asthmatic patients show an increase in eosinophil levels present in the sputum collected 24 h after allergen provocation [11].…”