Latex allergy is important due to serious health impacts and widespread use of its products.
Latex allergic reactions can be induced in skin and mucosal surfaces including the respiratory tract. The development of murine models of allergic airway
inflammation has provided a framework to dissect out the cellular and molecular mechanisms of allergic respiratory
inflammation. In this study we have developed a new mouse model of
latex allergic airway
inflammation using
aerosol inhalation. The allergic inflammatory responses were characterized in this model. Mice were injected intraperitoneally with 0, 10, 50, or 200 microg of
latex extract and their serum anti-
latex IgE titers were determined. In the second stage, a standard protocol of inhalation was designed and three doses of
latex extract solutions including 1%, 0.1%, and 0.01% were used to induce allergic airway
inflammation. Bronchoalveolar lavage
cytokines (IL-5 and IL-13) and serum anti-
latex IgE and
IgG(1) titers were determined by ELISA. Eosinophil levels in lung, peripheral blood, bronchoalveolar lavage and bone marrow were also evaluated. Histological analysis of lung tissue was also performed after
latex inhalation. The
aerosol inhalation of 1%
latex allergens solution and presensitization with 50 mug of
latex in this study resulted in the development of allergic airway
inflammation characterized by elevated
allergen specific
IgE and
IgG(1), peripheral blood, bronchoalveolar lavage and bone marrow
eosinophilia. Histological analysis of the lung revealed an inflammatory response characterized by eosinophil accumulation. Elevated levels of Th2
cytokines IL-5 and
IL-13 also were shown in bronchoalveolar lavage samples. These studies demonstrate that sensitization and subsequent
aerosol inhalational challenge of
latex allergen extract promotes allergic airway
inflammation characterized by elevated
IL-5 and
IL-13 and eosinophils.