Mj. Fargeas et al., BOOSTED SYSTEMIC IMMUNE AND LOCAL RESPONSIVENESS AFTER INTESTINAL INFLAMMATION IN ORALLY SENSITIZED GUINEA-PIGS, Gastroenterology, 109(1), 1995, pp. 53-62
Background & Aims: Intestinal inflammation resulting in disruption of
the mucosal barrier function has been proposed as a cause of increased
incidence of allergic diseases. This study was designed to evaluate w
hether intestinal inflammation is able to change the immune responsive
ness to sensitization and antigen challenge responses. Methods: Guinea
pigs orally sensitized to cow's milk proteins were either treated or
not treated with trinitrobenzenesulfonic acid (TNBS) to induce intesti
nal inflammation and compared with control animals (not sensitized). S
ystemic immune and local responsiveness to antigen challenge were asse
ssed by measuring antibody serum titers, colonic fluid secretion, muco
sal histamine level, and mucus depletion. Intestinal permeability was
evaluated from Cr-51-ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid (EDTA) recovery a
nd beta-lactoglobulin serum level. Results: Immunoglobulin E titers we
re higher in TNBS treated animals than in non-TNBS-treated sensitized
animals. Antigen challenge in TNBS treated animals induced a fourfold
increase of colonic secretion and greater histamine and mucus depletio
n than in non-TNBS-treated animals. Permeability to Cr-51-EDTA increas
ed 5 days after TNBS treatment but was unchanged after antigen challen
ge. In contrast to controls, beta-lactoglobulin was not detected in th
e sera of challenged sensitized and TNBS-treated animals. Conclusions:
Intestinal inflammation increasing gut permeability enhances the sens
itization process. Therefore, local anaphylactic reactions are exacerb
ated after antigen challenge.