Effect of anti-ICAM-1 on bronchial response: bronchoalveolar lavage fluid (BALF) and ultrastructural changes of bronchial epithelium in guinea pigs with dual phase bronchial response

Eosinophils play an important role in the development of bronchial asthma, and the association between ICAM-I and activation and migration of local eo sinophils is attracting attention. Using art asthmatic model of dual phase bronchial response, the effects of anti-ICAM-1 antibody on the airway resis tance, cell composition in the bronchoalveolar lavage fluid (BALF) and ultr astructure of bronchial ciliated epithelium were examined under the provoke d response by inhalation of the antigen. By administration of anti-ICAM-1 a ntibody, rite late asthmatic response (LAR) was suppressed. In the examinat ion of bronchoalveolar lavage fluid, a significant decrease in eosinophils was found in LAR. In examining transmission and scanning electron microscop ies, no difference was found in the immediate asthmatic response, but marke d suppression of deciduation of bronchial ciliated epithelium was observed in LAR. These results indicated that anti-ICAM-1 antibody suppressed bronch ial asthmatic attack mainly in LAR, by controlling differentiation and migr ation of eosinophils. (C)1999 Prous Science. All rights reserved.