Ionophore and arachidonic acid stimulation of airway responses in rhesus monkeys

Aerosolized doses of the ionophore, A23187, and arachidonic acid individually resulted in no airway response in rhesus monkeys. When these two agents were given simultaneously, by aerosol, an airway response occurred. The pulmonary function abnormalities that occurred qualitatively simulated those of an antigen-induced airway response. This is the first demonstration in our laboratory of two agents which singly will not produce a response but which are reactive when delivered in combination. Other fatty acids did not produce a similar response. The response to A23187 and arachidonic acid occurred only in rhesus monkeys from our colony which had been demonstrated to have airway responses to aerosolized antigen challenge, a response shown previously to be associated with hyperreactive airways to pharmacologic stimuli. The A23187 and arachidonic acid response was inhibited by aerosolized 5,8,11,14-eicosatetraynoic acid, an inhibitor of the cyclooxygenase and lipoxygenase pathways of arachidonic acid metabolism. Further, indomethacin, a prostaglandin synthetase inhibitor of the cyclooxygenase pathway, inhibited the response, although previous studies showed that this drug will potentiate an antigen-induced response in this animal model of asthma. The slow-reacting substance of anaphylaxis antagonist, FPL 55712, did not inhibit the A23187-arachidonic acid response under the conditions of these experiments. The mechanism of the A23187-arachidonic acid airway response in rhesus monkeys may or may not be the same as the antigen-induced response.

A study of the effect of slow-reacting substances of anaphylaxis on the rhesus monkey airway

Slow-reacting substance of anaphylaxis (SRS-A) generated from rat peritoneal mast cells was aerosolized to the airways of a group of rhesus monkeys with established airway responses to ascaris antigen. A selective effect of SRS-A on pulmonary resistance and a lesser but significant effect on compliance was observed which differed from antigen, histamine, carbocholine, or prostaglandin (PG) F2alpha responses. The airway recovery from the PR change is slower than that from histamine and simulated PGF2alpha and some antigen experiments. The cutaneous reactions in rhesus monkeys due to SRS-A could be blocked in a dose response pattern by FPL55712 which did not affect histamine responses in rhesus skin.

The in vivo transfer of antigen-induced airway reactions by bronchial lumen cells

Rhesus monkeys with airway responses to aerosol challenge with Ascaris antigen constitute a primate model of inhalant asthma. Previous studies have shown that bronchial lavage cells from airway-reactive animals will release histamine or a slow-reactive substance of anaphylaxis after challenge with antigen. Because these bronchial lumen cells are the first cells in contact with inhaled antigen, they may play a role in induction of antigen-induced airway responses. To evaluate this possibility, bronchial lumen lavage cells from animals with airway reactivity were transferred to the bronchial lumens of animals with negative airway responses to antigen challenge. The transfer of the bronchial lumen cells resulted in transient airway reactivity of the recipients to aerosol antigen challenge. It is suggested that the mast cells which constitute a component of the bronchial lumen cells may be the active cell alone, or in combination with other cells, which results in this primate immunoglobulin E-mediated airway response and its transfer to nonreactivie recipients.

Aerosolized antigen dose-response studies in asthmatic monkeys

This study used rhesus monkeys which had consistent respiratory responses to a standard (single dose) aerosolized concentration of A. Beginning at lower concentrations of A which did not produce an airway response, fourfold increases in concentrations of A were aerosolized until an airway response occurred. Compared with the single-dose SAC after the TAC, some consistently reactive animals did not respond to the SAC, the maximal concentration of A used for testing. Thus the TAC may result in an acute form of airway desensitization. Animals vary in the threshold concentrations of A required to produce an airway response. A repeat challenge with the threshold antigen concentration during the same experiment resulted in a second response generally greater than the initial response at the same concentration. When the SAC system was similarly evaluated by repeat challenges with the same A concentration, the second response was generally less than the first. Different methods for evaluation of pharmacologic inhibitors of IgE-mediated airway responses may be developed from this rhesus model of asthma.

The qualitative evaluation of airway responses to immunologic and pharmacologic stimuli in rhesus monkeys

This report describes the current status of a colony of rhesus monkeys composed of a group of animals with consistent asthmatic responses to Ascaris antigen challenge, a variable group and a negative group. The cumulative experience with the consistent group of 5 animals totals 144 months of observation with 86 positive respiratory responses to 86 aerosol challenges. Further studies compare rhesus airway responses to Ascaris antigen, anti-IgE, histamine, prostaglandin (PG)F2alpha, carbocholine, and physostigmine. We report that two abnormalities of pulmonary function which occur as a result of aerosol challenge, an increase in breathing frequency (f) and pulmonary resistance (PR), differ in degree of abnormality and time of onset following challenge with different agonists. These results indicate that the f and PR changes in response to these agonists are controlled by different physiologic mechanisms in rhesus monkeys. We suggest that the f changes may occur as a result of reflex afferent vagal stimulation and PR changes as a result of direct effect on smooth muscle receptors. The effect of histamine and PGF2alpha on the airway of rhesus monkeys more closely simulates the airway response to immunologic stimuli than does the effect of cholinergic type agonists.

Effect of PGE1 on immediate-type immunologic and pharmacologic respiratory responses of the rhesus monkey

The effect of prostaglandin (PG)E1 on the acute, immediate-type airway response to antigen, carbocholine, PGF2alpha, histamine, and physostigmine was studied. In contrast to isoproterenol, which affects all abnormalities of pulmonary function, PGE1 selectively reversed only abnormalities of pulmonary resistance and dynamic compliance. Prior exposure to PGE1 minimally inhibited airway responses but when given simultaneously with antigen, it either selectively inhibited some or dampened all pulmonary function abnormalities. It is suggested that PGE1 acts on receptor sites to produce transient bronchodilation primarily in large central airways in contrast to isoproterenol, which produces bronchodilation in all airways. These results may be consistent with the stimulation of different adenylate cyclase systems in the respiratory tract analogous to those suggested for the gastric mucosa.

Acute urticaria and bronchospasm following radiographic contrast media in a dog

An immediate-type systemic reaction in a dog following intravenous radiographic contrast media (RCM) manifested by urticaria and wheezing on one occasion and urticaria alone on another occasion is described. This reactivity disappeared spontaneously and plans to study the mechanisms of such a reaction were not possible. If such reactivity is more persistent in certain other dogs, a model for study of immediate type reactivity to RCM would be available.

Clinical and immunologic criteria for the diagnosis of allergic bronchopulmonary aspergillosis

Clinical and immunologic characteristics are reported in a series of 20 patients with allergic bronchopulmonary aspergillosis seen by physicians in one consulting service during a period of 9 years. Seventeen of these patients have been identified in the past 2 years, reflecting the increasing recognition of the entity. Fifteen of the 20 patients are believed to have proven diagnoses; the other five are strongly suspected. Asthma, pulmonary infiltrates, and eosinophilia are the usual presenting symptoms. Serum immunoglobulin E was markedly elevated in all patients, and serum immunoglobulin D was normal in four out of five patients sampled. Bronchograms were abnormal in all cases in which they could be done. Lymphocyte transformation may be present in some cases but is not a diagnostic feature. The average age at time of diagnosis was 25.5 years, and seven of the 15 proven patients were 20 or younger.

Immediate-type hypersensitivity to keyhole limpet haemocyanin in the dog

A model of immediate-type hypersensitivity (ITH) in the dog using keyhole limpet haemocyanin (KLH) as the antigen was studied. Long-lasting ITH was induced in fifteen of sixteen dogs by the i.v. (Kepron & Tse, 1975), intradermal (Rockey, Schwartzmann & Halliwell, 1971), inhalation (Patterson & Kelley, 1974) and i.d. plus inhalation (Rockey et al., 1971) routes. This ITH was demonstrated by direct skin reactivity, acute respiratory reactions and peripheral blood leucocyte and respiratory cell histamine release. The reaginic antibodies considered to mediate these reactions were larger than canine IgG, heat labile, 2-mercaptoethanol sensitive, and are probably canine IgE. In addition to cutaneous and respiratory reactions, these reagins were shown to mediate systemic reactions. In the course of these studies, an unexpected finding was the occurrence of ITH to KLH in three dogs which had had no prior experimental exposure to KLH. This ITH was of sufficient intensity to be associated with acute airway reactions to the inhaled antigen.

Mitogen-induced lymphocyte and cutaneous reactions in dogs

The lymphocyte response of dogs to mitogens was determined using separated lymphocyte and whole blood lymphocyte proliferation techniques. Reactivity to optimal doses of the following mitogens was demonstrated in decreasing order of intensity: phytohemagglutinin, Pokeweed mitogen, conconavalin A and sodium periodate. The canine cutaneous reactivity to these mitogens was also determined. Grossly, erythema and induration with all mitogens was maximal at 24 h. Microscopically, lesions using all mitogens consisted of edema, hyperemia and diffuse dermal infiltration with polymorphonuclear leukocytes and mononuclear cells. These mitogen-induced lesions may represent a specific lymphocyte-mediated inflammatory response, although a nonspecific reaction cannot be excluded.

A comparison of immunologic asthma to two types of cholinergic respiratory responses in the rhesus monkey

Rhesus monkeys were used to characterize the respiratory response (RR) to aerosolized physostigmine (Phy) and compare the response to the acute, reagin-mediated RR and the carbachol response. In the latter two responses, there are characteristic increases in frequency of respiration (f), pulmonary resistance (PR), and decreases in peak expiratory flow rate (PEFR), tidal volume (TV), and dynamic compliance (C). In contrast, a Phy RR characteristically shows no change in TV and f. The Phy RR is inhibited by atropine and lidocaine. The carbachol RR is inhibited by atropine but not lidocaine. The Phy RR mimics a vagally induced RR more closely than carbachol because it is inhibited by pharmacologic and physiologic vagal blockade produced by atropine and lidocaine, respectively, whereas the carbachol RR is blocked by atropine but not lidocaine. The carbachol block by atropine is primarily not a block of vagal action, but a general pharmacologic block of cholinergic action. The reagin-mediated RR is not inhibited by pharmacologic or physiologic vagal blockade. We conclude that a Phy-induced vagomimetic RR differs from a reagin-mediated, immediate-type RR. Although a minor portion, at most, of a reagin-mediated, immediate-type RR may be mediated via the vagus nerve, the major portion of a reagin-mediated RR occurs independent of the influences of the parasympathetic innervation of the lung.

Reagin-mediated asthma in rhesus monkeys and relation to bronchial cell histamine release and airway reactivity to carbocholine

Rhesus monkeys with persistent immediate-type cutaneous and respiratory responses (RR) to ascaris antigen (AA) were compared with rhesus monkeys with skin reactivity and no respiratory responses, and animals with no skin reactivity and no respiratory responses to inhaled antigen (NR). The RR group could not be distinguished from the nonresponding (NR) group by the cutaneous skin test titers, serum, or respiratory secretion IgE concentration. Leukocyte histamine (H) release due to anti-IgE was similar with peripheral blood leukocytes and bronchial lumen mast cells (MC) from RR and NR animals. The RR group of animals could be distinguished from the NR group by their degree of sensitivity to inhaled carbocholine and H release from respiratory MC exposed to AA. The RR group demonstrates consistent, persistent respiratory responses suitable for immunologic, pharmacologic, and physiologic studies. Finally, it was found that the IgE concentration in respiratory secretions of rhesus monkeys was comparatively higher than in serum, evidence for IgE as a secretory Ig in the respiratory tract of this species.

The effect of cholinergic and anticholinergic agents on the primate model of allergic asthma

Rhesus monkeys with reagin-mediated, immediate-type respiratory responses to ascaris antigen were used for comparison with the type of responses that occur from certain pharmacologic agents. Carbacholine produces a respiratory response that is the same type as an antigen-induced respiratory response and will sensitize an animal's airway so that a dose of antigen not reactive alone will stimulate a response. Antigen and histamine will sensitize the airway so that a subthreshold dose of carbacholine will produce a respiratory response. Atropine completely inhibited the carbacholine response and reversed the increased sensitivity to carbacholine that occurs after an antigen response. Atropine did not block the antigen-induced respiratory response or the respiratory response to prostagladin F2alpha. Partial inhibition of these responses may have occurred but was not detected in the systems used in these studies. A double-antigen challenge system in the rhesus model of asthma provides a useful technique for evaluating the effect of pharmacologic agents on the reagin-mediated respiratory response.

Potentiation of IgE-mediated cutaneous reactivity and blood leucocyte histamine release by deuterium oxide

A previous study (Gillespie & Lichtenstein, 1972) demonstrated that there was potentiation of histamine release from human peripheral blood leucocytes following exposure to antigin or anti-IgE in deuterium oxide (D2O). The current study confirms the results with human leucocytes and indicates that the degree of histamine release due to anti-IgE or its potentiation by D2O appeared independent of the serum IgE concentration of the cell donor. Further studies demonstrated that the peripheral blood leucocytes from monkeys with a sufficient degree of IgE-mediated reactivity to Ascaris antigen-released histamine following exposure to that antigen. This leucocyte histamine release occurs in animals with immediate-type cutaneous and respiratory reactivity following challenge with this antigen. Peripheral blood leucocytes from certain monkeys release histamine following exposure to anti-human IgE. Both of these Rhesus leucocyte responses are potentiated by D2O. This potentiation of histamine release in vitro in two species by D2O was compared with the potentiation of cutaneous reactivity in IgE-mediated cutaneous reactions in two species. The addition of D2O to Ascaris antigen or anti-IgE increased the end-point cutaneous titres to these stimuli in Rhesus monkeys and the addition of D2O to Ascaris or ragweed antigen increased the end point cutaneous titre to these reactants in allergic dogs. D2O did not potentiate cutaneous reactivity to histamine in either dog or Rhesus monkey.

Potentiating effect of D-2-O on the ascaris-induced, reagin-mediated model of asthma in the Rhesus monkey studied with a double aerosolized antigen challenge technique

Rhesus monkeys with IgE-mediated sensitivity have respiratory reactions following aerosol challenge with antigen. Studies of agents affecting this response have previously been limited by variations in animal responsiveness at different times. A method for avoiding this variability was tested in these experiments by comparing the degree of response to two antigen challenges during the same experiment and subsequently repeating the experiment with antigen dissolved in a mixture of H-2-O and D-2-O. D-2-O was selected for testing because it should theoretically potentiate histamine-mediated respiratory responses. The results of the studies indicated that there is a potentiating effect of D-2-O on the antigen-induced respiratory response in rhesus monkeys. The double antigen challenge system described should have potential use for study of a variety of inhibiting or potentiating agents on the rhesus model of asthma.

Arterial and muscle oxygen tension in experimental models of asthma. Experimental models of asthma

The immediate-type airway response in anesthetized dogs and rhesus monkeys to two antigens (ascaris and keyhole limpet hemocyanin) and pharmacologic agents (histamine, methacholine and prostaglandin F2alpha) were studied. The pulmonary function abnormalities demonstrated by changes in breathing frequency, peak expiratory flow rate, pulmonary resistance, expiratory-inspiratory time ratio, tidal volume, and dynamic compliance were compared with simultaneous determinations of arterial pO2, muscle pO2 or both, using indwelling electrodes. The results demonstrate that the O2 determinations provide an additional parameter of study of these experimental models of asthma, and that it may be one of the more sensitive indicators of an induced airway response of the immediate-type. The hypoxia parallels the degree of severity of the respiratory response and demonstrates a further similarity of this model to human asthma.