Intratracheal ovalbumin administration induces colitis through the IFN-γ

Abstract

Abstract Recent studies it has reported an increased incidence of inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) in patients with pulmonary diseases. Despite clinical and epidemiological studies of the interplay between colitis and asthma, the diseases’ related underlying echanisms remain unclear. In this study, we evaluated the development of colitis in a model of allergic airway inflammation. We revealed that intratracheal chronic ovalubmin (OVA) exposure induces colitis and allergic airway inflammation. Interestingly, induction of colitis was largely regulated by Th1, rather than Th2 responses, whereas allergic airway inflammation was primarily mediated by Th2 responses. Experiments T-bet−/− and Ifng−/− mice deficient mice confirmed that IFN-γ is a major mediator involved in OVA-induced colitis. These findings broaden current understanding of allergen induced colitis pathology and could play a role in the development of novel clinical treatment strategies for asthmatic patients who are at risk of developing colitis.