ISSN:
1365-2222
Source:
Blackwell Publishing Journal Backfiles 1879-2005
Topics:
Medicine
Notes:
Background The collectin surfactant protein D (SP-D) confers protection against pulmonary infection and inflammation. Recent data suggest a role for SP-D in the modulation of allergic inflammation.Objective The aim of this study is to characterize the immune responses of SP-D-deficient (SP-D−/−) mice in a kinetic model of allergic inflammation. We determined whether allergic parameters were enhanced in SP-D−/− mice in vivo. Further, we examined whether functional immune responses in vitro such as lymphocyte proliferation (LP) and cytokine production were modulated in the absence of SP-D.Methods In vivo, wild-type (WT) and SP-D−/− mice were sensitized and challenged with the allergen ovalbumin (OVA) and assessed for allergic parameters (bronchoalveolar lavage (BAL) eosinophils, IL-13 production, pulmonary IFN-γ, IL-10 expression) at early time points (1 and 3 days of challenge) in comparison with late time points (7 days of challenge). In vitro, spleen cells from WT and SP-D−/− mice were stimulated with the mitogen concanavalin A (ConA) and lipid A (LpA) and analysed for LP, IL-13 and IFN-γ production. Toll-like receptor 4 (TLR4), ligand for LpA, was assessed by mRNA expression and immunohistochemistry in vivo.Results Following allergen exposure in vivo, SP-D−/− mice expressed higher BAL eosinophils and IL-13 concentrations and lower IFN-γ expression at early time points compared with WT mice. IL-10 expression was increased at early time points in SP-D−/− compared with WT mice. Allergen-induced TLR4 expression was increased in WT, but not in SP-D−/− mice. After stimulation with LpA and ConA in vitro LP was increased and IFN-γ concentration was decreased in SP-D−/− mice.Conclusion SP-D may be critical for the modulation of early stages of allergic inflammation in vivo.
Type of Medium:
Electronic Resource
URL:
http://dx.doi.org/10.1111/j.1365-2222.2004.02068.x
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