Effects of IL-13 neutralization antibody on airway inflammation and Th1/Th2 cell function during convalescent period of asthma in mice

Objective To investigate the effects of IL-13 neutralization antibody on the airway inflammation and Th1/Th2 cell function after acute attack of asthmatic mice.Methods A total of 24 Balb/c mice were randomly divided into 3 groups: the control group,asthmatic group,and treatment group.Mice in the latter 2 groups were sensitized and challenged with ovalbumin (OVA) to establish asthmatic models,while mice in control group were treated with saline as the substitution of OVA.After the last OVA challenge,mice in treatment group were injected with the IL-13 neutralization antibody per 48 h for 14 days,while mice in control group and asthmatic group received saline.Re-(sults The) inflammatory cell recruitment and pulmonary emphysema were greatly attenuated in the treatment group.In either blood or bronchoalveolar lavage fluid(BALF),the IFN-γ level was significantly elevated but the IL-4 and OVA specific IgE levels were much lower in the treatment group compared with the asthmatic group.There were not apparent differences between the treatment group and the control group.(Conclusion This) study demonstrates that IL-13 neutralization antibody works effectively after acute attack of asthmatic mice,not only attenuating the airway inflammation and pulmonary emphysema,but also regulating the disorder of Th1/Th2 cytokines in asthmatic mice.