Strain-Specific Differences in House Dust Mite (Dermatophagoides farinae)-Induced Mouse Models of Allergic Rhinitis

Abstract

Objectives. Limited information is available regarding strain-related differences in mouse models of allergic rhinitis induced by <i>Dermatophagoides farinae</i> (Der f1). In this study, we compared differences between two mouse strains and determined the optimal dose of Der f1 for allergic rhinitis mouse models.Methods. Forty-eight mice were assigned to the following six groups (n=8 per group): group A (control, BALB/c), group B (Der f1-sensitized BALB/c, 25 µg), group C (Der f1-sensitized BALB/c, 100 µg), group D (control, C57BL/6), group E (Der f1-sensitized C57BL/6, 25 µg), and group F (Der f1-sensitized C57BL/6, 100 µg). Allergic inflammation was induced with Der f1 and alum sensitization, followed by an intranasal challenge with Der f1. Rubbing and sneezing scores, eosinophil and neutrophil infiltration, and immunoglobulin, cytokine, and chemokine levels in the nasal mucosa and from splenocyte cultures were assessed.Results. Rubbing and sneezing scores were higher in groups B, C, E, and F than in groups A and D, with a similar pattern in both strains (i.e., group B vs. E and group C vs. F). Serum immunoglobulin levels were significantly elevated compared to the control in groups B and C, but not in groups E and F. Eosinophil and neutrophil infiltration increased (all <i>P</i><0.05) after the Der f1 challenge (groups B, C, E, and F) compared to the control (groups A and D) in both the BALB/c and C57BL/6 strains, without any significant difference between the two strains (group A vs. D, group B vs. E, and group C vs. F) (<i>P</i>>0.05). BALB/c mice (group B) showed a greater elevation of splenic interleukin (IL)-4 (<i>P</i><0.01), IL-5 (<i>P</i><0.01), and IL-6 levels (P<0.05) and nasal IL-4 mRNA levels (<i>P</i><0.001) than the C57BL/6 mice (group E). Interestingly, mice treated with 100 µg Der f1 showed a weaker allergic response than those treated with 25 µg.Conclusion. We found 25 µg to be a more appropriate dose for Der f1 sensitization. BALB/c mice are more biased toward a Th2 response and are a more suitable model for allergic rhinitis than C57BL/6 mice. This study provides information on the appropriate choice of a mouse model for allergic rhinitis.

Effectiveness of Indonesian house dust mite allergenic extract in triggering allergic rhinitis sensitivity in a mouse model: A preliminary study

“…The expression of IL-5 mRNA in the nasal mucosa was not increased in IHDM-induced AR groups, but only a tendency to increase was observed, which could be a sign of the onset of the late phase allergic response in AR. These results are in agreement with those reported by Lee et al [28], who showed different expression levels of IL-5 mRNA in the nasal mucosa and mice splenocyte cultures. The absence of a significant change in IL-5 expression in the present study is presumably due to various chemotactic factors that caused a low expression of IL-5 in the nasal mucosa.…”

“…Thus, the infiltration of eosinophils into the nasal mucosa resulted from an allergic reaction. Such an increase in eosinophil infiltration in the nasal mucosa has been reported previously [23,25,28,33].…”

“…These findings indicated the mice in the four groups with IHDM sensitization experienced the early phase AR response. The use of AR mice models for this kind of behavior validation test has been reported previously [23,28,29]. The present study is, however, the first behavior test report using an AR mice model showing an interaction between the number of challenges and the different treatments in affecting the nose rubbing and sneezing behavior.…”

“…Lower nose rubbing and sneezing were observed in the very high-dose group compared with that in the high-dose group. This behavioral change is thought to be caused by the administration of a very high dose of the allergenic extract, which could have modified the natural mechanism of RA pathogenesis as a form of immune tolerance to antigens [1,28,37]. These findings indicate that IHDM allergic extract has great potential as an effective immunotherapy agent for allergies.…”

Effect of parasympathetic inhibition on expression of ILC2 cells in a mouse model of allergic rhinitis

“… 23 , 24 , 25 , 26 BALB/c mice immune responses tend to be Th2 response and are widely used for AR mice model. 27 However, C57BL/6 mice can be used as ILC2s mediated allergic inflammation, which reduce the influence of Th2 type adaptive immunity and better reflect the important role of innate immunity in respiratory allergic inflammation. 28…”