The effect of Der f-induced airway inflammation on airway remodeling in a murine model of allergic asthma

Airway remodeling are suggested to be responsible for thickening of airway walls, which appears to be the basis of the airway flow limitation and hyperresponsiveness in asthma, although the precise mechanisms and the contribution of airway inflammation in the development of airway remodeling are unknown. After BALB/c were sensitized to Der f and exposed to inhale intranasal with Der f on a week for 6 weeks, repeated Der f exposure were done on 3 days/week for 6 weeks to induce chronic asthma. Twenty-four hour after the final antigen challenge, bronchial responsiveness was measured, and bronchoalveolar lavage and histologic examinations were carried out. Repeated allergen exposure induced airway inflammation, IgE/IgG1 responses, goblet cell hyperplasia, and subepithelial fibrosis. The number of neutrophils in BALF was increased more than that of eosinophil in BALF according to repeated allergen exposure. These results suggest that neutrophils have also been suggested to play a role in the development of airway remodeling.