Absence of alpha 4 but not beta 2 integrins restrains development of chronic allergic asthma using mouse genetic models.

ABSTRACT:

Objective

Chronic asthma is characterized by ongoing recruitment of inflammatory cells and airway hyperresponsiveness leading to structural airway remodeling. Although alpha 4 beta 1 and beta2 integrins regulate leukocyte migration in inflammatory diseases and play decisive roles in acute asthma, their role has not been explored under the chronic asthma setting. To extend our earlier studies with alpha 4(Delta/Delta) and beta2(-/-) mice, which showed that both alpha 4 and beta2 integrins have nonredundant regulatory roles in acute ovalbumin (OVA)-induced asthma, we explored to what extent these molecular pathways control development of structural airway remodeling in chronic asthma.

Materials and methods

Control, alpha 4(Delta/Delta), and beta2(-/-) mouse groups, sensitized

SUBMITTER: Banerjee ER 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC3696022 | biostudies-literature | 2009 Jun

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature