Immunoglobulin E-Containing Cells in Mouse Lung Following Allergen Inhalation and Ozone Exposure

Abstract

Cells containing immunoglobulin E (IgE) were enumerated and their location in mouse lungs was determined by direct immunofluorescence. Lungs were studied from mice that had been immunized with aerosolized ovalbumin as well as from normal mice and from mice that were exposed to ozone (0.5 or 0.8 ppm) prior to receiving aerosolized antigen. In addition, some mice were immunized intraperitoneally with ovalbumin precipitated in alum. IgE-containing cells were primarily airway-related in normal mice and in mice immunized by the intraperitoneal route. Lungs from aerosol-immunized, and aerosol-immunized and ozone-exposed mice showed a more disseminated distribution of IgE-containing cells. Fluorescent cells were counted and numbers were expressed as total cells per square millimeter of lung tissue and as airway-associated cells per millimeter of airway. Total IgE cells increased 9.4-fold in mice that received aerosolized ovalbumin as compared to normal mice. When ozone exposure was added to the effects from aerosolized ovalbumin, the increase of IgE cells over normal was 34.2-fold. IgE cell counts correlated well with anaphylactic sensitivity to intravenous challenge with ovalbumin. The observed enhancement of allergic sensitization by ozone exposure has important implications for human health.

Enhancement of IgE Antibody Production by Ovalbumin Aerosol in Mice

“…However, little is known concerning the regulation of IgE antibody production by aerosolized antigens in animals, since the administration of aerosolized anti gens hardly produces IgE antibody [2] and the meth ods of aerosol administration have not been suffi ciently studied. In this study, the effect of administra tion of aerosolized antigen on the induction of IgE antibody production in mice is reported.…”

Immune Responses in Rats Sensitized with Aerosolized Antigen

“…In experimental models, adminis tration of antigens into the lungs results in the forma tion of antibodies, particularly of the IgA, IgM and IgG isotypes [6], Antibody responses of the IgE iso type have also been reported by some authors [1,2,17,18,24,26], but not by others [ 16,22,23].…”

Increased IgE Antiovalbumin Level in Mice Exposed to Formaldehyde

“…Experimental animal studies revealed that S 0 2 increases the sensitivity of animals to develop anaphylactic reaction in response to the sensitizing agent (ovalbumin) presumably by increasing the respiratory epithelial permeability [8]. Ozone induces the high number o f IgE-containing cells in the lungs [9]. Partic ulates from diesel exhausts enhance allergen-specific IgE responses [10].…”