INTERLEUKIN-5 EXPRESSION IN THE LUNG EPITHELIUM OF TRANSGENIC MICE LEADS TO PULMONARY CHANGES PATHOGNOMONIC OF ASTHMA

We have generated transgenic mice that constitutively express murine i nterleukin (IL)-5 in the lung epithelium. Airway expression of this cy tokine resulted in a dramatic accumulation of peribronchial eosinophil s and striking pathologic changes including the expansion of bronchus- associated lymphoid tissue (BALT), goblet cell hyperplasia, epithelial hypertrophy, and focal collagen deposition. These changes were also a ccompanied by eosinophil infiltration of the airway lumen. In addition , transgenic animals displayed airway hyperresponsiveness to methachol ine in the absence of aerosolized antigen challenge. These findings de monstrate that lung-specific IL-5 expression can induce pathologic cha nges characteristic of asthma and may provide useful models to evaluat e the efficacy of potential respiratory disease therapies or pharmaceu ticals.