Abstract
Background:
The number of amphiregulin (AR)-positive mast cells in the bronchial mucosa and the levels of AR in sputum from asthmatic patients have been reported to be increased. In addition, AR can promote mucin gene expression in human epithelial cells, suggesting that AR contributes to the pathogenesis of allergic asthma.
Methods:
To elucidate the role of AR in the pathogenesis of asthma, we immunized AR-deficient mice with ovalbumin (OVA) and then induced airway inflammation in them after OVA inhalation. The OVA-induced airway inflammation was assessed on the basis of the lung histology, number of leukocytes in the bronchoalveolar lavage (BAL) fluid, Th2 cytokine levels in the BAL fluid and OVA-specific IgG1 and IgE levels in the serum and compared between AR-sufficient and -deficient mice.
Results:
The OVA-induced airway inflammation was comparable in the AR-sufficient and -deficient mice.
Conclusions:
Amphiregulin is not essential for induction of acute airway inflammation by OVA in mice.
Publication types
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Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural
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Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
MeSH terms
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Amphiregulin
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Animals
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Asthma / immunology*
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Bronchial Hyperreactivity / blood
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Bronchial Hyperreactivity / chemically induced
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Bronchial Hyperreactivity / genetics
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Bronchial Hyperreactivity / immunology*
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Bronchoalveolar Lavage Fluid / chemistry
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Bronchoalveolar Lavage Fluid / cytology
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Cytokines / metabolism
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Disease Models, Animal
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EGF Family of Proteins
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Glycoproteins / genetics
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Glycoproteins / immunology
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Glycoproteins / metabolism*
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Humans
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Immunization
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Immunoglobulin E / blood
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Immunoglobulin G / blood
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Intercellular Signaling Peptides and Proteins / genetics
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Intercellular Signaling Peptides and Proteins / immunology
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Intercellular Signaling Peptides and Proteins / metabolism*
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Lung / pathology*
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Mice
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Mice, Knockout
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Ovalbumin / administration & dosage*
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Ovalbumin / immunology
Substances
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AREG protein, human
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Amphiregulin
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Areg protein, mouse
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Cytokines
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EGF Family of Proteins
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Glycoproteins
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Immunoglobulin G
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Intercellular Signaling Peptides and Proteins
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Immunoglobulin E
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Ovalbumin