Procedures to Evaluate Inflammatory and Pathological Changes During Allergic Airway Inflammation

Cellular inflammation, with elevated levels of Th1/Th2 cytokines, airway mucus hypersecretion, and thickening of the airway smooth muscle, are characteristic features of the allergic lung. Assessment of pathophysiological changes in allergic lungs serves as an important tool to determine disease progression and understand the underlying mechanisms of pathogenesis. This can be achieved by evaluating the lung tissue for inflammation and airway structural changes along with the measurement of important pro-inflammatory mediators such as Th1/Th2 cytokines and eotaxins. This chapter describes procedures to histologically evaluate inflammatory and pathological changes observed during allergic airway inflammation using lung tissue from mice.