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The contribution of mast cells to the late-phase of allergic asthma in rats

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Abstract.

Introduction: Mast cells are thought to be the main cause of an immediate asthmatic response, but their contribution to the late-phase of asthma is unknown.

Objective: To prove the contribution of preactivated mast cells to the late phase of allergic asthma by advanced activation.

Methods: Mast cell function in the late-phase of asthma was studied. Rats (wild, +/+ and mast cell deficient, Ws/Ws) were challenged with OVA to investigate the relationship between the contraction of airways and the population of inflammatory cells in the trachea.

Result: During the entire asthmatic period, the contraction of the airway after OVA challenge in +/+ rats was enhanced significantly compared to Ws/Ws rats, especially in the late phase. The bronchoalveolar lavage fluid histamine in +/+, but not Ws/Ws, rats increased 5.3-fold in 30 min and 3.4-fold in 8 h after challenge, significantly. The number of mucosal mast cells in the tracheal epithelial layer in +/+ rats increased significantly 2.2-fold over controls at 8 h after challenge, as demonstrated by in situ hybridization.

Conclusions: Mast cells may contribute to the late phase of asthmatic response by continuous mast cell activation and the mucosal mast cell number increased in the late phase of asthmatic response.

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Correspondence to K. Maeyama.

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Received 15 October 2004; returned for revision 21 December 2004; accepted by A. Falus 26 January 2005

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Liu, S., Chihara, K. & Maeyama, K. The contribution of mast cells to the late-phase of allergic asthma in rats. Inflamm. res. 54, 221–228 (2005). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00011-005-1346-9

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00011-005-1346-9

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