EOSINOPHIL ACCUMULATION AND ACTIVATION IN ANTIGEN-INDUCED LATE ASTHMATIC RESPONSE IN GUINEA-PIGS

The purpose of this study was to investigate the participation of airw ay eosinophils in the antigen-induced late asthmatic response (LAR) an d increased airway responsiveness in the guinea pig model of asthma. A fter antigen challenge, guinea pigs sensitized with aerosolized ovalbu min showed a late-phase decrease in specific airway conductance, which was accompanied by airway hyperresponsiveness to histamine, eosinophi lia in the bronchoalveolar ravage fluid (BALF), decreased BALF eosinop hil density, and increased generation of superoxide anions from purifi ed BALF eosinophils. We demonstrated an association of the LAR with eo sinophil accumulation and activation in the airway.