P-selectin is an adhesion receptor that has been shown to be important
in the recruitment of eosinophils and lymphocytes in a variety of inf
lammatory conditions. Because cellular recruitment is thought to be a
critical event in allergen-induced changes in airway responsiveness, w
e reasoned that P-selectin-deficient mice would exhibit reduced airway
responsiveness and cellular trafficking noted in wild-type (+/+) mice
. Both (+/+) and P-selectin-deficient (-/-) mice sensitized and challe
nged with ovalbumin (OVA/OVA) exhibited the same capacity to produce i
ncreased titers of total and OVA-specific immunoglobulin E. Airway res
ponsiveness to methacholine was significantly greater in the (+/+) (OV
A/OVA) animals than it was in the respective (-/-) (OVA/OVA) group or
control groups (P = 0.0016). Bronchoalveolar lavage fluid from (-/-) (
OVA/OVA) mice contained significantly fewer eosinophils and lymphocyte
s compared with the (+/+) (OVA/OVA) mice (P < 0.05). These results sug
gest that the predominant role of P-selectin in OVA-induced airway hyp
erresponsiveness is to promote the airway inflammatory response to all
ergen inhalation.