Immune and airway effects of house dust mite aeroallergen exposures during postnatal development of the infant rhesus monkey.

Abstract

BACKGROUND:

The effect of chronic environmental aeroallergen exposure on the immune system and airways has not been experimentally defined in very young children.

OBJECTIVE:

The purpose of this study was to determine the immunophenotype of peripheral blood and airway leucocytes in the newborn rhesus macaque monkey, following recurrent aerosol exposure to house dust mite (HDM) (Dermatophagoides farinae).

METHODS:

A regimen of HDM aerosolization was initiated for 2 h per day, three times per week, starting when rhesus macaque monkeys were 1 week of age. All monkeys were inoculated with diptheria, tetanus, and acellular pertussis vaccine at 5 weeks of age to simulate human infant vaccination schedules.

RESULTS:

Following 8 weeks of HDM aeroallergen exposure, infant monkeys exhibited a significant reduction in the total peripheral blood lymphocyte numbers and a decreased frequency of peripheral blood CD4+ T lymphocytes with a CD45RA-'memory' immunophenotype. Lavage CD4+ T lymphocytes from HDM-exposed monkeys showed elevated expression of CD25, as well as an increase in CD45RA-/CD62L-/CD11ahigh immunophenotype. Eosinophils were more abundant within airways of HDM-exposed monkeys, accumulating maximally within the trachea.

CONCLUSION:

These data demonstrate the development of immunological responses following chronic inhalation of a common environmental allergen during postnatal maturation in the non-human primate.

• Authors: L A Miller, C G Plopper, D M Hyde, J E Gerriets, E M Pieczarka, N K Tyler, M J Evans, L J Gershwin, E S Schelegle, L S Van Winkle
• Journal: Clinical and experimental allergy : journal of the British Society for Allergy and Clinical Immunology (Clin Exp Allergy) Vol. 33 Issue 12 Pg. 1686-94 (Dec 2003) ISSN: 0954-7894 [Print] England
• PMID: 14656356 (Publication Type: Journal Article, Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't, Research Support, U.S. Gov't, P.H.S.)

Chemical References

• Antigens, Dermatophagoides
• CD11a Antigen
• Receptors, Interleukin-2
• L-Selectin
• Leukocyte Common Antigens

Topics

• Animals
• Animals, Newborn (immunology)
• Antigens, Dermatophagoides (administration & dosage)
• CD11a Antigen (analysis)
• CD4-Positive T-Lymphocytes (immunology)
• Dermatophagoides farinae (immunology)
• Environmental Exposure
• Eosinophils (immunology)
• Flow Cytometry
• Immunologic Memory
• L-Selectin (analysis)
• Leukocyte Common Antigens (analysis)
• Lung (immunology)
• Lymphocyte Count
• Macaca mulatta
• Male
• Models, Animal
• Receptors, Interleukin-2 (analysis)