The Effect of Asian Sand Dust in Allergic Inflammation of Allergic Mouse

Abstract

Background and Objectives:Asian sand dust (ASD) is known to aggravate the respiratory symptoms in patients with bron- chial asthma. However, the effect of ASD in allergic rhinitis is not known. The objective of this study was to investigate whether ASD can activate the allergic inflammation in allergic mouse model. Materials and Method:Forty female BALB/c mice were divided into 4 groups. Group 1 was nebulized with saline and group 2 with ASD. Group 3 was nebulized with ovalbumin (OVA) only and Group 4 with OVA plus ASD after intraperitoneal injection with OVA. The allergic symptom scores were checked. The mouse OVA specific IgE/IgG1, IL-4, IL-5 and IFN-γ were measured by ELISA. The nasal mucosa was examined for the expression of IL-4 and IL-5 by immunohistochemical stain. Results:The average symptom score was increased in Group 4 compared to Group 3 (p<0.05). The IgE was significantly increased in Group 4 compared to Group 3 (p<0.01). The IL-4 level of nasal lavagefluid (NALF) was significantly increased in Group 4 compared to Group 3 (p<0.05). The IL-5 level showed no significant difference between the Group 3 and Group 4 both in the serum and NALF. The level of IFN-γ was not changed in NALF. Immunohistochemical staining showed that the positive cells for IL-4 were expressed in epithelial layer and submucous gland and the positive cells were more increased in Group 4 than in Group 3. Conclusion:In allergic mouse model, ASD has shown to activate the allergic inflammatory reaction by the stimuli of Th2 cytokineproduction. (Korean J Otorhinolaryngol- Head Neck Surg 2009;52:498-505)