Induction of Airway Hypersensitivity to Ovalbumin and Dust Mite Allergens as Mouse Models of Allergic Asthma

Abstract

Mouse models of allergic asthma have been utilized to establish the role of T helper type 2 (Th2) cells in driving lung inflammation, airway hyperresponsiveness, and obstruction. Here, we present the allergic asthma models, in which mice are hypersensitized to ovalbumin (OVA) and house dust mite (HDM). These models mimic the major characteristics of human asthma including the eosinophilic inflammation and hyperactivity of the airway, overproduction of Th2 cytokines in the lung, and elevated total and allergen-specific immunoglobulin E (IgE) in serum.

Keywords: Airway hypersensitivity; Allergic asthma; House dust mite; Immunoglobulin E; Mouse model; Ovalbumin; Pulmonary eosinophilia; T helper type 2 cytokines.