Effects of prior oral exposure to combinations of environmental immunosuppressive agents on ovalbumin allergen-induced allergic airway inflammation in Balb/c mice

Effect of prenatal exposure to combined immunosuppressive agrochemicals in a mouse model of allergic airway inflammation

The aim of this study is to identify the combined effect of multiple chemicals to the development of allergy. In this study, the effect of prenatal exposure to an organochlorine agent methoxychlor (MXC) and/or an organophosphate agent parathion (PARA) on trimellitic anhydride-induced allergic airway inflammation was examined in mice. Eosinophil infiltration in the bronchoalveolar lavage fluid (BALF) was significantly enhanced by MXC + PARA exposure compared to that of the control, MXC, and PARA groups. In the hilar lymph node, only slight increases in B-cell infiltration, as well as IL-6 and IL-9 secretions were observed in MXC + PARA group, and no effect was observed in the individual treatment groups. Our findings imply that prenatal exposure to some combinations of multiple chemicals may exacerbate the allergic inflammatory responses including eosinophils and cytokine production.

Cholinergic Modulation of Type 2 Immune Responses

In recent years, the bidirectional relationship between the nervous and immune system has become increasingly clear, and its role in both homeostasis and inflammation has been well documented over the years. Since the introduction of the cholinergic anti-inflammatory pathway, there has been an increased interest in parasympathetic regulation of both innate and adaptive immune responses, including T helper 2 responses. Increasing evidence has been emerging suggesting a role for the parasympathetic nervous system in the pathophysiology of allergic diseases, including allergic rhinitis, asthma, food allergy, and atopic dermatitis. In this review, we will highlight the role of cholinergic modulation by both nicotinic and muscarinic receptors in several key aspects of the allergic inflammatory response, including barrier function, innate and adaptive immune responses, and effector cells responses. A better understanding of these cholinergic processes mediating key aspects of type 2 immune disorders might lead to novel therapeutic approaches to treat allergic diseases.