Comparison of early and late responses to antigen of sensitized guinea pigs parenchymal lung strips

Author(s)

Tatiana Lanças

• Document type: Master's Dissertation
• Press: São Paulo.
• Institution: Universidade de São Paulo (USP). Faculdade de Medicina (FM/SBD)
• Defense date: 2006-09-21

Examining board members

Marisa Dolhnikoff; José Roberto de Brito Jardim; Wothan Tavares de Lima

• Advisor: Marisa Dolhnikoff

Abstract

The peripheral lung parenchyma has been studied as a component of the asthmatic inflammatory response. During induced constriction, tissue resistance increases in different asthma models. Approximately 60% of the asthmatic patients show early and late responses. The late response is characterized by more severe airway obstruction. In the present study, we evaluated lung parenchymal strips mechanics in ovalbumin-sensitized guinea pigs, trying to reproduce both early and late inflammatory responses. Oscillatory mechanics of lung strips were performed in a control group (C), in an early response group (ER), and in two late response groups: 17 (L1) and 72 (L2) hours after the last ovalbumin challenge. Measurements of resistance and elastance were obtained before and after ovalbumin challenge in C and ER groups and before and after Acetylcholine challenge in all groups. Using morphometry, we assessed the density of eosinophils and smooth muscle cells, as well as collagen and elastin content in lung strips. The baseline and post-agonist values of resistance and elastance were increased in ER, L1 and L2 groups compared with C (p = 0.001). The morphometric analysis showed an increase in alveolar eosinophil density in ER and L2 groups compared with C group (p < 0.05). There was a significant correlation between eosinophil density in parenchymal strips of C, L1 and L2 groups and values of resistance and elastance post-Acetylcholine (r = 0.71, p = 0.001 and r=0.74, p < 0.001, respectively). The results show that the lung parenchyma is involved in the late response of this guinea pig model of chronic allergic inflammation and the constriction response in this phase is related to the eosinophilic inflammation. (AU)