Immunomodulatory effect of pigeon serum in an acute and chronic murine model of bird fanciers lung

• Published in: Environmental research 2020-03, Vol.182, p.108981-108981, Article 108981
• Main Authors: Sánchez-Ortiz, M., Cruz, M.J., Sánchez-Díez, S., Villar, A., Ojanguren, I., Muñoz, X.
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Bronchoalveolar lavage; Cytokines; Inflammation; Lymphocytes; Serum specific IgG
• ISSN: 0013-9351; 1096-0953
• DOI: 10.1016/j.envres.2019.108981

Since the immunopathological mechanisms of bird fancier’s lung (BFL) are not well known, we created two models of the disease (acute and chronic BFL) to study and compare the pathways involved in its immunopathogenesis. C57BL/6 mice were used. Two intraperitoneal injections of 100 μL of commercial pigeon serum (PS) or saline (SAL) were administered with an interval of 48 h in between. Subsequently, intranasal instillations of 40 μL of PS or SAL were performed three days a week, for three weeks in the acute model (AC/PS) and for twelve weeks in the chronic model (CR/PS). Total lung capacity (TLC) was assessed. Pulmonary inflammation was evaluated in bronchoalveolar lavage (BAL), and total serum immunoglobulin (Ig) G was measured in serum samples 24 h, 7 days and 14 days after the last exposure. Histological studies of lungs were assessed. A drop in TLC was observed in treated mice. This decrease was more marked in the CR/PS group (p