Impact of lung remodelling on respiratory mechanics in a model of severe allergic inflammation

• Published in: Respiratory physiology & neurobiology Vol. 160; no. 3; pp. 239 - 248
• Main Authors: Silva, Pedro L, Passaro, Caroline P, Cagido, Viviane R, Bozza, Marcelo, Dolhnikoff, Marisa, Negri, Elnara M, Morales, Maina M.B, Capelozzi, Vera L, Zin, Walter A, Rocco, Patricia R.M
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Amsterdarm Elsevier B.V 29.02.2008; Elsevier
• Subjects: Animals; Asthma - chemically induced; Asthma - pathology; Asthma - physiopathology; Biological and medical sciences; Collagen fibres; Disease Models, Animal; Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; Elastance; Eosinophil; Extracellular matrix; Fundamental and applied biological sciences. Psychology; Hyperplasia - pathology; Hypertrophy - pathology; Lung histology; Lung viscoelasticity; Mammals; Mechanics of breathing; Medical Education; Methacholine Chloride - pharmacology; Mice; Mice, Inbred BALB C; Microscopy, Electron - methods; Muscarinic Agonists - pharmacology; Muscle, Smooth - pathology; Muscle, Smooth - ultrastructure; Ovalbumin - adverse effects; Pathology; Pulmonary Alveoli - drug effects; Pulmonary Alveoli - pathology; Pulmonary Alveoli - ultrastructure; Pulmonary Eosinophilia - pathology; Pulmonary/Respiratory; Respiratory Hypersensitivity - chemically induced; Respiratory Hypersensitivity - pathology; Respiratory Hypersensitivity - physiopathology; Respiratory Mechanics - drug effects; Respiratory Mechanics - physiology; Vertebrates: respiratory system; Elastance; Pathology; Lung histology; Mechanics of breathing; Collagen fibres; Lung viscoelasticity; Extracellular matrix; Mice; Mammals; Eosinophil; Viscoelasticity; Lung; Glycoprotein; Rodentia; Histology; Inflammation; Respiratory system; Vertebrata; Mammalia; Mouse; Collagen; Mechanic of breathing; Models
• ISSN: 1569-9048; 1878-1519
• DOI: 10.1016/j.resp.2007.10.009

Abstract We developed a model of severe allergic inflammation and investigated the impact of airway and lung parenchyma remodelling on in vivo and in vitro respiratory mechanics. BALB/c mice were sensitized and challenged with ovalbumin in severe allergic inflammation (SA) group. The control group (C) received saline using the same protocol. Light and electron microscopy showed eosinophil and neutrophil infiltration and fibrosis in airway and lung parenchyma, mucus gland hyperplasia, and airway smooth muscle hypertrophy and hyperplasia in SA group. These morphological changes led to in vivo (resistive and viscoelastic pressures, and static elastance) and in vitro (tissue elastance and resistance) lung mechanical alterations. Airway responsiveness to methacholine was markedly enhanced in SA as compared with C group. Additionally, IL-4, IL-5, and IL-13 levels in the bronchoalveolar lavage fluid were higher in SA group. In conclusion, this model of severe allergic lung inflammation enabled us to directly assess the role of airway and lung parenchyma inflammation and remodelling on respiratory mechanics.