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Updated: May 12, 2026
Murine Model of Allergen Induced Asthma
Published on: May 14, 2012
Murine models of infectious exacerbations of airway inflammation
Malcolm Ronald Starkey1, Andrew Gregory Jarnicki, Ama-Tawiah Essilfie
1Centre for Asthma and Respiratory Disease, The Hunter Medical Research Institute and The University of Newcastle, Newcastle, Australia.
Abstract:
Airway inflammation underpins the pathogenesis of the major human chronic respiratory diseases. It is now well recognized that respiratory infections with bacteria and viruses are important in the induction, progression and exacerbation of these diseases. There are no effective therapies that prevent or reverse these events. The development and use of mouse models are proving valuable in understanding the role of infection in disease pathogenesis. They have recently been used to show that infections in early life alter immune responses and lung structure to increase asthma severity, and alter immune responses in later life to induce steroid resistance. Infection following smoke exposure or in experimental chronic obstructive pulmonary disease exacerbates inflammation and remodeling, and worsens cystic fibrosis. Further exploration of these models will facilitate the identification of new therapeutic approaches and the testing of new preventions and treatments.
Insights
Respiratory infections significantly worsen chronic lung diseases like asthma and COPD. Mouse models reveal how early-life infections increase asthma severity and later-life infections cause steroid resistance, guiding new therapeutic development.
Area of Science:
- Respiratory Medicine
- Immunology
- Pathogenesis of Chronic Respiratory Diseases
Background:
- Airway inflammation is central to chronic respiratory diseases.
- Respiratory infections (bacterial and viral) are key drivers of disease induction, progression, and exacerbation.
- Current therapies lack efficacy in preventing or reversing infection-induced disease events.
Purpose of the Study:
- To elucidate the role of respiratory infections in the pathogenesis of chronic respiratory diseases using mouse models.
- To investigate how infections influence immune responses and lung structure in early and later life.
- To explore the impact of infection in the context of smoke exposure, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), and cystic fibrosis.
Main Methods:
- Utilized mouse models to study the effects of respiratory infections.
- Examined alterations in immune responses and lung structure following infection.
- Investigated infection impact in models of asthma, COPD, and cystic fibrosis, including during smoke exposure.
Main Results:
- Early-life infections were shown to increase asthma severity by altering immune responses and lung structure.
- Later-life infections were found to induce steroid resistance through immune response modulation.
- Infection exacerbated inflammation and remodeling in smoke-exposed mice and worsened cystic fibrosis models.
Conclusions:
- Mouse models are valuable tools for understanding infection's role in respiratory disease pathogenesis.
- Findings highlight specific mechanisms by which infections impact disease severity and treatment response.
- Further research with these models is crucial for identifying novel preventive and therapeutic strategies.
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