Development of asthma mouse model by dermal sensitization

What is it about?

Background: Asthma prevalence in Sudan has risen coping with urbanization to be 18.2% in Khartoum in the age group of 13-14 years old. There was extensive research on prevalence and triggering factors, with no experimental research, for which animal models were essential. The goal of the study is to develop asthma phenotype in mice with TDI sensitization. Method: It was a controlled experimental study in which 24 BALB/Lac mice were divided equally into control (G1) and treatment (G2) groups. G1 was treated by 25 μL 2:3 acetone olive oil (vehicle) applied dermally on days 1, 3, 7. 10. G2 was treated by 25 μL of 0.3% TDI in acetone olive oil (AOO) applied on the same days. Autopsy and samples (Blood, BALF, and lung tissue) collection were performed on day 12. The results were analysed using t-test of the SPSS. Results: In the blood, there were statistically significant increases in the percentages of neutrophils and eosinophils in the TDI sensitized mice (G2) with a reduction in lymphocytes. In BALF, neutrophils, lymphocytes, and basophils showed significant increases while eosinophils and monocytes showed non-significant increases in the TDI group. Lung histopathological changes in the TDI group were hyperemia, leukocytic infiltration, thickening of bronchoalveolar walls, and damage of respiratory epithelium. Conclusion: TDI-sensitized mice showed significant increase in granulocytes count specially neutrophils and eosinophils both in blood and BALF with inflammatory and allergic lung tissue changes. These changes confirmed the allergic responses and the development of asthma phenotype.

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Photo by CDC on Unsplash

Photo by CDC on Unsplash

Why is it important?

This research is important for asthma researchers specially in Sudan to test triggers and suppressors of asthma phenotype in mice. Also development of asthma through dermal sensitization will raise a challenge that should be faced that wearing nasal masks is not enough at areas of sensitization.

Perspectives