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Updated: Jul 24, 2025
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Murine Model of Allergen Induced Asthma
Published on: May 14, 2012
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A steroid-resistant cockroach allergen model is associated with lung and cecal microbiome changes
Nobuhiro Asai1, Alexander D Ethridge1,2, Wendy Fonseca1
1Department of Pathology, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan, USA.
Physiological Reports
|July 5, 2023
Summary
Steroid-resistant asthma shows no improvement with fluticasone treatment, but significantly alters the gut microbiome and its metabolic pathways, suggesting a novel role in disease pathogenesis.
Area of Science:
- Immunology
- Microbiology
- Pulmonology
Background:
- Asthma pathogenesis is linked to lung and gut microbiome alterations.
- Steroid resistance is a significant challenge in managing chronic asthma.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the impact of corticosteroid treatment on lung and gut microbiome in a steroid-resistant asthma model.
- To explore functional changes in the gut microbiome and its metabolites.
Main Methods:
- Utilized a chronic cockroach antigen-induced (CRA) asthma model in animals.
- Administered fluticasone to assess steroid resistance and its effects on lung pathophysiology.
- Analyzed lung and gut microbiome composition and function (cecal metabolites via PiCRUSt).
Main Results:
- Fluticasone treatment did not improve asthma pathophysiology (mucus, airway hyperresponsiveness) or reduce inflammatory markers in lungs.
- Significant alterations were observed in the gut microbiome composition of fluticasone-treated animals.
- Functional analysis revealed enrichment of specific biosynthetic pathways, including the tryptophan pathway, in the cecal microbiome.
Conclusions:
- Corticosteroid treatment in steroid-resistant asthma significantly impacts the gut microbiome and its metabolic functions.
- These microbiome and metabolite changes may influence future asthma pathogenesis.
- Further research is needed to clarify the implications of these findings for asthma management.
