Jpn. J. Pharmacol. 85 (3), 250-259 (2001)


Role of Mast Cells in Antigen-Induced Airway Inflammation and Bronchial Hyperresponsiveness in Rats

Naoki Kawada, Hiroyuki Tanaka, Toshiaki Takizawa, Takatoshi Yamada, Yoshimasa Takahashi, Taisei Masuda, Naoki Inagaki and Hiroichi Nagai*

Department of Pharmacology, Gifu Pharmaceutical University, 5-6-1 Mitahora-higashi, Gifu 502-8585, Japan
*Corresponding author. FAX: +81-58-237-8584
E-mail: nagai@gifu-pu.ac.jp


Abstract: The participation of mast cells in the induction of antigen-induced airway inflammation and bronchial hyperresponsiveness (BHR) to acetylcholine (ACh) was investigated using pharmacological agents and mast cell-deficient rats (Ws/Ws). A significant increase in the number of leukocytes in bronchoalveolar lavage fluid (BALF) and bronchial responsiveness to ACh were observed 24 h after antigen (ovalbumin) challenge in sensitized Brown-Norway (BN) rats. Disodium cromoglycate and terfenadine did not inhibit antigen-induced airway inflammation and BHR in sensitized BN rats. In contrast, cyclosporin A (CyA), FK-506 and prednisolone significantly inhibited antigen-induced airway inflammation and BHR in sensitized BN rats. In addition, disodium cromoglycate, terfenadine and prednisolone, but not CyA and FK-506, inhibited homologous passive cutaneous anaphylaxis in rats. Furthermore, a significant increase in the number of leukocytes in BALF and BHR was also observed in Ws/Ws rats 24 h after inhalation of antigen; however, the magnitude of BHR in Ws/Ws rats was lower than that in the congenic rats. These findings suggest that mast cells play a partial role in the development of antigen-induced BHR in rats and that the induction of BHR is barely suppressed by mast cell stabilizing agents.

Keywords: Airway inflammation, Bronchial hyperresponsiveness, Brown-Norway rat, Mast cell, Ws/Ws rat

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