Abstract
Background
Allergic asthma strongly correlates with airway inflammation caused by cytokines secreted by allergen‐specific type‐2 T helper (Th2) cells, but the immunologic regulation of cell function is yet to be acquired. Further, IL‐10 has been found to exert both antiinflammatory and immunoregulatory activities. This study aimed to elucidate the therapeutic effects of IL‐10 administration via adenovirus‐mediated gene delivery on airway inflammation in the ovalbumin (OVA)‐induced murine model of asthma.
Methods
BALB/c mice were sensitized by intraperitoneal injections with OVA and challenged by nebulized OVA. The sensitized mice were given an intratracheal delivery of adenoviral vector expressing the murine IL‐10 gene (AdIL‐10), or mock adenoviral vector 4 days before the inhalation challenge of the OVA. Inflammatory parameters, such as the development of airway hyper‐responsiveness (AHR), bronchial lavage fluid eosinophils, and chemokines were assayed.
Results
Intratracheal administration of AdIL‐10 could efficiently inhibit antigen‐induced AHR and significantly decrease the number of eosinophils and neutrophils in the bronchoalveolar lavage fluid of OVA‐sensitized and challenged mice during the effector phase.
Conclusions
Our data showed that the intratracheal transfer of the IL‐10 gene could affect the recruitment of inflammatory cells during the challenge phase in a way that would result in the inhibition of airway inflammation. These findings suggest that the development of an immunoregulatory strategy based on IL‐10 might shed light on more effective treatment. Copyright © 2006 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.