V beta 8(+) T lymphocytes are essential in the regulation of airway hyperresponsiveness and bronchoalveolar eosinophilia but not in allergen-specificIgE in a murine model of allergic asthma
Cl. Hofstra et al., V beta 8(+) T lymphocytes are essential in the regulation of airway hyperresponsiveness and bronchoalveolar eosinophilia but not in allergen-specificIgE in a murine model of allergic asthma, CLIN EXP AL, 28(12), 1998, pp. 1571-1580
Background There is increasing evidence that in allergic asthma the inflamm
atory process is regulated by T lymphocytes. In BALB/c mice the majority of
ovalbumin responsive T lymphocytes express the V beta 8.1(+) and V beta 8.
2(+) T-cell receptor. Objective We analysed the contribution of V beta 8(+)
T lymphocytes during the sensitization and challenge phase in the regulati
on of antigen-specific IgE, airway hyperresponsiveness and cellular infiltr
ation in the airways in a murine model of allergic asthma.
Methods Mice strains genetically lacking (SJL/J and SJA/9) and expressing (
BALB/c) the V beta 8(+) T cell receptor were used. In addition, prior to th
e sensitization and prior to the challenge BALB/c mice were treated with an
tibodies to V beta 8. Mice were sensitized with ovalbumin, followed by repe
ated challenge with ovalbumin or saline aerosols.
Results In ovalbumin challenged BALB/c mice treated with control antibody a
significant increase in eosinophils in the bronchoalveolar lavage, airway
hyperresponsiveness and increased serum levels of ovalbumin-specific IgE we
re observed compared to control mice. Treatment of BALB/c mice with antibod
ies to V beta 8 prior to the sensitization or prior to the challenge period
completely inhibited the ovalbumin induced infiltration of eosinophils and
airway hyperresponsiveness, while ovalbumin-specific IEE was slightly decr
eased. In SJA/9 and SJL/J mice ovalbumin challenge did not induce eosinophi
lic infiltration and airway hyperresponsiveness. In SJL/J mice ovalbumin ch
allenge induced an upregulation of ovalbumin-specific IgE, however, in SJA/
9 mice no upregulation was observed.
Conclusion It is demonstrated that V beta 8(+) T lymphocytes are essential
for infiltration of eosinophils in the airways and development of airway hy
perresponsiveness in a murine model of allergic asthma. In contrast, althou
gh V beta 8(+) T lymphocytes seem to be important for the extent of IgE lev
els, no essential role for V beta 8(+) T lymphocytes in the induction of an
tigen-specific IgE was observed.