Aim: To explore the effects of ovalbumin atomization on the T lymphocyte subsets in lung and spleen of BALB/c mice with intestinal microflora disruption resulted from antibiotic therapy.
Methods: Thirty two female BALB/c mice were devided at random into 4 groups with eight mice in each. They were microbiota disruption group, microbiota disruption and challenge group, challenge group and control group. On day 14, the levels of Th1, Th2, Th17 and CD4+, CD25+, Foxp3+ regulatory T cells (Tregs) in lung and spleen were detected by flow cytometry.
Results: In microbiota disruption and challenge group, Th2 and Th17 cell levels in lung were increased and no difference was found of Th1, Th2 as well as Th17 cell levels in spleen compared with those in the control group. The levels of Tregs were both decreased in lung and spleen of the mice in microbiota disruption group as well as microbiota disruption and challenge group.
Conclusion: The allergic airway response driven by Th2 and Th17 cells polarization can be induced by atomization with ovalbumin in mice with intestinal microflora disruption resulted from antibiotic therapy. It's maybe associated with insufficient function of Tregs.