Adoptive transfer of allergen‐specific CD4+ T cells induces airway inflammation and hyperresponsiveness in Brown–Norway rats

• Published in: Immunology 1997-06, Vol.91 (2), p.176-185
• Main Authors: HACZKU, A., MACARY, P., HUANG, T.‐J., TSUKAGOSHI, H., BARNES, P. J., KAY, A. B., KEMENY, D. M., CHUNG, K. F., MOQBEL, R.
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Adoptive Transfer; AIDS/HIV; Animals; Bronchial Hyperreactivity - immunology; Bronchoalveolar Lavage Fluid - immunology; CD4-Positive T-Lymphocytes - immunology; CD4-Positive T-Lymphocytes - transplantation; CD8-Positive T-Lymphocytes - immunology; CD8-Positive T-Lymphocytes - transplantation; Cell Culture Techniques; Cell Division - immunology; Eosinophils - immunology; Leukocyte Count; Lymphocyte Transfusion; Male; Rats; Rats, Inbred BN; Spleen - immunology
• ISSN: 0019-2805; 1365-2567
• DOI: 10.1046/j.1365-2567.1997.d01-2221.x

Following allergen exposure, sensitized Brown–Norway rats develop airway hyperresponsiveness (AHR) and eosinophilic inflammation together with an increase in activated T cells (CD25+) in the airways. We tested the hypothesis that CD4+ T cells are involved directly in the acquisition of AHR. Spleen T cells from animals that were injected intraperitoneally on three consecutive days with ovalbumin/Al(OH)3, showed a dose‐dependent proliferative response in vitro to ovalbumin, but not to bovine serum albumin, as measured by []> 3H]thymidine uptake. For total T‐cell transfer, spleen cells obtained from donor rats 4 days after sensitization were depleted of adherent cells by a nylon wool column separation. CD4+ and CD8+ T cells were purified by immunomagnetic beads cell separation. Recipient naive rats were injected intravenously with 50×106 total T cells, 20×106 and 5×106 CD4+cells, and 5×106 CD8+ cells, and were exposed to ovalbumin aerosol 24 hr afterwards. After a further 24 hr, airway responsiveness to acetylcholine (ACh) was measured and provocative concentration (PC) values (PC100, PC200 andPC300) (the ACh concentration needed to achieve 100, 200 and 300% increase in lung resistance above baseline) were calculated. Airway responsiveness was significantly increased in recipients of sensitized total T cells compared with recipients of cells from saline‐injected donor rats (P