Allergen-induced airway remodeling in mice is used as a model for human allergic asthma. This disease is induced by first sensitizing mice to the protein antigen, chicken ovalbumin (OVA) by intraperitoneal immunization with OVA in a T_H2-inducing adjuvant. Three weeks later, mice are challenged by inhalation of aerosolized OVA (or saline alone, as a control) daily for the following three weeks. At the end of the entire six week period, the lungs of the mice are examined for leukocyte numbers in the bronchial alveolar lavage fluid (BALF) and for tissue remodeling as assessed by measuring fibrotic areas in the lung tissue. To determine the cell type most likely responsible for the tissue damage in this disease, IL-5 receptor-deficient mice (IL5R^-/-) are compared to wild-type, as shown in Figure Q13). airway remodeling disease model is:

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

Eosinophils are the cell type most likely responsible for tissue damage in allergen-induced airway remodeling in mice, which is used as a model for human allergic asthma. This is supported by the fact that IL-5 receptor-deficient mice (IL5R^-/-), which are unable to support eosinophil survival, have reduced tissue remodeling compared to wild-type mice.

Allergen-Induced Airway Remodeling in Mice Is Used as a Model