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Updated: Apr 15, 2026
Murine Model of Allergen Induced Asthma
Published on: May 14, 2012
[Effect of Lep d2 from Lepidoglyphus destructor as a vaccine for specific immunotherapy in murine with asthma]
Objective:
To assess the effect of Lep d2 from Lepidoglyphus destructor as a vaccine for specific immunotherapy on murine model of asthma.
Methods:
Thirty BALB/c mice (SPF) were randomly categorized into a PBS group, an asthma group, and a Lep d2 SIT group. The mice in the asthma group and Lep d2 SIT group were sensitized by intraperitoneal injection with extracts of dust mites on Days 0, 7th, and 14th, while those in the PBS group were injected with PBS. From the 21st day, the asthma group and Lep d2 SIT group exposed to the extracts of dust mites were stimulated by aerosol inhalation for 7 successive days. During the period of the 25th-27th Day, the mice in Lep d2 SIT group were injected intraperitoneally with Lep d2 allergen for SIT 30 min before nasal inhalation, whereas the PBS group and asthma group were treated with only PBS. Twenty-four hours after the final inhalation, all the mice were sacrificed, the bronchoalveolar lavage fluids (BALFs) were collected. The levels of IFN-γ, IL-5 and IL-13 in the BALF and the supernatant of splenocyte culture solution (SSCS) as well as the levels of specific IgE (sIgE) and sIgG2a in the sera were detected by ELISA. The lung tissues of the mice in the above 3 groups were stained by haematoxylin and eosin (H&E) and observed by a microscope.
Results:
The symptoms of acute asthma attack were observed in the mice of the asthma group and Lep d2 group, but not in the PBS group. The allergic inflammation changes in lung in the Lep d2 SIT group were significantly alleviated compared with those in the asthma group. The concentrations of IFN-γ in BALFs and SSCS of the mice in the Lep d2 SIT group were significantly higher than those in the asthma group (both P < 0.01), while the levels of IL-5 and IL-13 in the former group were significantly lower than those in the latter group (all P < 0.01). Meanwhile, the level of sIgE of mice in the Lep d2 SIT group was significantly lower than those in the asthma group (P < 0.01), while the level of sIgG2a of mice in the former group was higher than those in the latter group (P < 0.01).
Conclusion:
Lep d2 allergen as a vaccine can alleviate the allergic symptoms in the lung of mice effectively after allergen specific immunotherapy.
Insights
Lep d2 allergen immunotherapy effectively reduced allergic asthma symptoms in mice. This allergen-specific immunotherapy approach demonstrated significant improvements in lung inflammation and immune responses, offering a promising therapeutic strategy.
Area of Science:
- Immunology
- Allergology
- Respiratory Medicine
Context:
- Asthma is a chronic respiratory disease characterized by airway inflammation and hyperresponsiveness.
- Dust mite allergens, such as Lep d2, are common triggers for allergic asthma.
- Current treatments for asthma focus on symptom management, highlighting the need for disease-modifying therapies.
Purpose:
- To evaluate the efficacy of Lep d2 allergen as a vaccine for specific immunotherapy in a murine model of asthma.
- To assess the impact of Lep d2-based immunotherapy on allergic inflammation and immune cell profiles in asthma.
Summary:
- Mice sensitized to dust mite allergen developed asthma symptoms and lung inflammation.
- Lep d2-specific immunotherapy significantly alleviated allergic lung inflammation compared to the asthma group.
- Immunotherapy increased IFN-γ levels while decreasing IL-5 and IL-13, indicating a shift towards a Th1 immune response.
Impact:
- Lep d2 immunotherapy effectively reduced allergen-specific IgE and increased allergen-specific IgG2a levels, suggesting immune tolerance induction.
- This study demonstrates the potential of Lep d2 as a vaccine for allergen-specific immunotherapy in managing allergic asthma.
- Findings support further investigation into Lep d2 immunotherapy for human asthma treatment.
