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Updated: Mar 9, 2026
Murine Model of Allergen Induced Asthma
Published on: May 14, 2012
Bacteria isolated from lung modulate asthma susceptibility in mice
Aude Remot1, Delphyne Descamps2, Marie-Louise Noordine1
1Micalis Institute, INRA, AgroParisTech, Université Paris-Saclay, Jouy-en-Josas, France.
Abstract:
Asthma is a chronic, non-curable, multifactorial disease with increasing incidence in industrial countries. This study evaluates the direct contribution of lung microbial components in allergic asthma in mice. Germ-Free and Specific-Pathogen-Free mice display similar susceptibilities to House Dust Mice-induced allergic asthma, indicating that the absence of bacteria confers no protection or increased risk to aeroallergens. In early life, allergic asthma changes the pattern of lung microbiota, and lung bacteria reciprocally modulate aeroallergen responsiveness. Primo-colonizing cultivable strains were screened for their immunoregulatory properties following their isolation from neonatal lungs. Intranasal inoculation of lung bacteria influenced the outcome of allergic asthma development: the strain CNCM I 4970 exacerbated some asthma features whereas the pro-Th1 strain CNCM I 4969 had protective effects. Thus, we confirm that appropriate bacterial lung stimuli during early life are critical for susceptibility to allergic asthma in young adults.
Insights
Early life lung bacteria influence allergic asthma development. Specific bacterial strains can either worsen or protect against asthma, highlighting the importance of lung microbial exposure.
Area of Science:
- Immunology
- Microbiology
- Pulmonology
Background:
- Asthma is a chronic, multifactorial respiratory disease with rising global incidence.
- The role of the lung microbiome in asthma pathogenesis remains incompletely understood.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the direct impact of lung microbial components on allergic asthma in a mouse model.
- To determine if early-life lung bacteria modulate susceptibility to aeroallergens.
Main Methods:
- Utilized Germ-Free and Specific-Pathogen-Free mice to assess asthma susceptibility.
- Isolated and screened neonatal lung bacteria for immunoregulatory properties.
- Administered specific bacterial strains intranasally to evaluate their effect on allergic asthma.
Main Results:
- Absence of bacteria did not alter susceptibility to House Dust Mite-induced allergic asthma.
- Early-life allergic asthma altered lung microbiota composition.
- One bacterial strain (CNCM I 4970) exacerbated asthma, while another (CNCM I 4969) showed protective effects.
Conclusions:
- Lung microbiota composition in early life critically influences the development of allergic asthma.
- Specific bacterial lung stimuli can reciprocally modulate aeroallergen responsiveness and asthma outcomes.
