Airway Inflammation and Allergen Specific IgE Production May Persist Longer Than Airway Hyperresponsiveness in Mice

During the preclinical study of new therapeutic modality, we evaluate whether the treatment can reverse the established asthma phenotypes in animal model. However, few have reported on the long term persistence of asthma phenotypes upon re-challenge with allergen (secondary challenge) in animal model. We evaluated the persistence of asthma phenotypes by secondary challenge at different times in previously challenged murine asthma model. BALB/c mice sensitized by intraperitoneal injections of 20 µgram of ovalbumin and 1 mg of alum on days 1 and 14 were challenged initially by the inhalation of 1% ovalbumin for 30 min on days 21, 22, and 23. Each group of mice was rechallenged at 5, 7, 9, or 12 weeks after the initial challenge. Airway hyperresponsiveness, BAL fluid, airway histology and serum ovalbumin-specific IgE level were evaluated. Airway eosinophilia, airway inflammation and serum ovalbumin-specific IgE production persisted upon secondary allergen challenges at least 12 weeks after the initial challenge. However, airway hyperresponsiveness persisted only until mice were rechallenged 7 weeks after the initial challenge. Airway inflammation and allergen specific IgE production may persist longer than airway hyperresponsiveness in a mouse asthma model of secondary allergen challenge

Effect of Cosensitization with Buckwheat Flour Extract on the Production of House Dust Mite-specific IgE

There are studies reporting food sensitization in infancy increases the risk of sensitization to inhalants later in life. We performed a study to evaluate whether cosensitization with buckwheat (BW) has an effect on the production of house dust mite-IgE. C3H/HeJ mice (4 weeks, female) were sensitized with house dust mite (HDM)/Al (OH)3, intraperitoneally on day 0, followed by 4 intranasal sensitizations (on days 14, 15, 16, and 21). Group 1 was cosensitized intragastrically with BW/cholera toxin (CT) (on days 0, 1, 2, 7, and 18) during sensitization with HDM, group 2 was cosensitized intragastrically with CT only (on days 0, 1, 2, 7, and 18), and group 3 was used as controls. HDM- and BW-IgE and antigen-specific T-cell proliferation and cytokine production were evaluated. In Group 1, BW-IgE levels were highest at week 4, and the HDM-IgE at week 3 (98.45±64.37 ng/mL and 169.86±55.54 ng/mL, respectively). In Group 2, HDM-IgE levels reached a peak at week 3, remarkably higher (810.52±233.29 ng/mL) compared to those of Group 1 (169.86±55.54 ng/mL). The interleukin (IL)-4 and interferon (IFN)-γ in the HDM-stimulated culture supernatants of splenocytes were not significantly different among groups. We postulate that the cosensitization with BW may down-regulate the specific IgE response to HDM

The effect of an autologous cellular gel-matrix integrated implant system on wound healing

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>This manuscript reports the production and preclinical studies to examine the tolerance and efficacy of an autologous cellular gel-matrix integrated implant system (IIS) aimed to treat full-thickness skin lesions.</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>The best concentration of fibrinogen and thrombin was experimentally determined by employing 28 formula ratios of thrombin and fibrinogen and checking clot formation and apparent stability. IIS was formed by integrating skin cells by means of the <it>in situ </it>gelification of fibrin into a porous crosslinked scaffold composed of chitosan, gelatin and hyaluronic acid. The <it>in vitro </it>cell proliferation within the IIS was examined by the MTT assay and PCNA expression. An experimental rabbit model consisting of six circular lesions was utilized to test each of the components of the IIS. Then, the IIS was utilized in an animal model to cover a 35% body surface full thickness lesion.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>The preclinical assays in rabbits demonstrated that the IIS was well tolerated and also that IIS-treated rabbit with lesions of 35% of their body surface, exhibited a better survival rate (p = 0,06).</p> <p>Conclusion</p> <p>IIS should be further studied as a new wound dressing which shows promising properties, being the most remarkable its good biological tolerance and cell growth promotion properties.</p