Ovalbumin-induced experimental allergic asthma is Toll-like receptor 2 dependent

Allergy Asthma Proc. 2014 Mar-Apr;35(2):e15-20. doi: 10.2500/aap.2014.35.3735.

Abstract

The role of Toll-like receptor (TLR) 2 in modulating allergy-induced asthma is contradictory. We investigated the effect of TLR2 gene deletion in a murine model of ovalbumin (OVA)-challenged asthma. TLR2 wild-type (TLR2(+/+)) and TLR2-deficient (TLR2(-/-)) mice were sensitized to soluble OVA antigens and challenged with OVA, and the extent of allergic airways disease was analyzed in both groups of mice at day 8 after being challenged with OVA aerosol. At day 8 post-OVA, TLR2(-/-) mice exhibited significantly lower airway hyperresponsiveness, airway inflammation, and whole lung T-helper type 2 (Th2) cytokine levels compared with the TLR2(+/+) group. TLR2 deletion also significantly reduced mucus cell metaplasia and peribronchial fibrosis in mice at day 8 after challenged by OVA. The p38/AKT/nuclear factor kappaB (NF-kappaB) p65 and phosphate extracellular signal-regulated kinase (ERK)/p38/AKT was decreased in TLR2(-/-) mouse lungs. Thus, during OVA asthma in mice, TLR2 is a major contributor to the maintenance of the adaptive Th2-cytokine-driven inflammatory disorder and ERK/p38 as well as AKT/NF-κB playing a role in it.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Asthma / genetics
  • Asthma / immunology*
  • Asthma / metabolism*
  • Disease Models, Animal
  • Extracellular Signal-Regulated MAP Kinases / metabolism
  • Gene Expression Regulation
  • Interleukin-13 / genetics
  • Interleukin-13 / metabolism
  • Interleukin-4 / genetics
  • Interleukin-4 / metabolism
  • Interleukin-5 / genetics
  • Interleukin-5 / metabolism
  • Lung / immunology
  • Lung / metabolism
  • Lung / pathology
  • Lymphocyte Count
  • Lymphocyte Subsets / immunology
  • Lymphocyte Subsets / metabolism
  • Male
  • Mice
  • Mice, Knockout
  • NF-kappa B / metabolism
  • Ovalbumin / adverse effects
  • Ovalbumin / immunology
  • Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-akt / metabolism
  • Signal Transduction
  • Th2 Cells / immunology
  • Th2 Cells / metabolism
  • Toll-Like Receptor 2 / genetics
  • Toll-Like Receptor 2 / metabolism*
  • p38 Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinases / metabolism

Substances

  • Interleukin-13
  • Interleukin-5
  • NF-kappa B
  • Toll-Like Receptor 2
  • Interleukin-4
  • Ovalbumin
  • Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-akt
  • Extracellular Signal-Regulated MAP Kinases
  • p38 Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinases