Mucosally induced immunoglobulin E-associated inflammation in the respiratory tract

The purpose of the present study was to determine the immunologic responses , particularly immunopathologic reactions, associated with nasal immunizati on with the mucosal adjuvant, cholera toxin (CT). BALB/c mice were nasally immunized with tetanus toroid (TT) combined with CT, and the responses of t hese mice were determined. After nasal immunization, mice produce a serum a ntibody response, primarily of the immunoglobulin G (IgG) isotype of predom inantly IgG1 subclass, against both TT and CT. Along with the antibody resp onses, we also found that inflammatory reactions, which could be potentiall y fatal, developed within the lung. Furthermore, IgE responses were also in duced after nasal immunization, and these responses were associated with th e detection of interleukin 5 in the serum. Thus, nasal immunization with TT plus CT likely results in the activation of Th2 cells, which may contribut e to serious immunopathologic reactions in the lung.