A NOVEL MURINE MODEL OF ALLERGIC CONJUNCTIVITIS

Allergic conjunctivitis affects over 40 million patients per year in t he United States. Here we present the first murine model that incorpor ates the clinical, cellular, and humoral parameters of allergic conjun ctivitis, including a ragweed-induced Th2-type cytokine production by lymphocytes. SWR/J mice were immunized with short ragweed pollen in al uminum hydroxide. Ten days after immunization, allergic conjunctivitis was induced by one topical application of ragweed pollen onto the eye . Immediate response was characterized by chemosis, redness of the con junctiva, and lid edema, Histopathology and immunohistochemistry showe d dense conjunctival infiltration with polymorphonuclear leukocytes, m acrophages, and CD4+ T lymphocytes. In addition, ragweed-specific IgG1 and IgE serum levels were significantly higher in immunized animals, and high levels of IL-4 and IL-5 were detected in supernatants from ra gweed-activated lymphocytes. This reproducible model is a well-suited instrument for testing the pathophysiology and future therapies of all ergic conjunctivitis.