IGE AND EOSINOPHIL REGULATION IN A MURINE MODEL OF ALLERGIC ASPERGILLOSIS

Exposure of BALB/c mice to Aspergillus fumigatus (Af), the antigen res ponsible for causing allergic bronchopulmonary aspergillosis in humans , caused elevated levels of serum immunoglobulin E (IgE) and periphera l blood and lung eosinophilia similar to that observed in the human di sease. We have investigated the role of interleukin-4 (IL-4), IL-5 and interferon-gamma in regulating IgE and eosinophilia in the mouse mode l. Animals were immunized by intraperitoneal injections of soluble Af antigens adsorbed to alum. These animals developed elevated IgE and Af specific IgG1. and were then treated with anticytokine monoclonal ant ibodies before the final exposure to particulate Af antigens by the in tranasal route. The results showed that anti-IL-5 abrogated eosinophil ia in mice, while those treated with anti-IL-4 retained the same or re duced IgE levels compared to pretreatment levels. All anti-IL-5, anti- IFN-gamma, and control antibody-treated animals showed enhanced IgE le vels. Anti-IFN-gamma treatment of mice resulted in marked enhancement of eosinophilia compared to all other groups. Eosinophil numbers obser ved in the histological sections of the lungs confirmed the eosinophil ia detected in the peripheral blood. These results indicate that the i ncrease in IgE and eosinophils after exposure to Af antigens in BALB/c mice are due to Af-induced production of IL-4 and IL-5 and that both IgE and eosinophilia are independently regulated.