Authors: Kang, C.-I.¹; Rouse, M. S.¹; Patel, R.¹; Kita, H.²; Juhn, Y. J.³

Source: Clinical & Experimental Immunology, Volume 156, Number 3, June 2009 , pp. 552-561(10)

Publisher: Wiley-Blackwell

Abstract:

Summary

The relationship between allergic airway inflammation and pneumococcal pneumonia is not well understood. We assessed susceptibility to experimental pneumococcal pneumonia in mice with and without allergic airway inflammation. Susceptibility to pneumococcal pneumonia was evaluated by challenging mice with a bioluminescent Streptococcus pneumoniae strain after sensitization with ovalbumin (OVA), with subsequent monitoring of pneumococcal infection using real-time photonic imaging. Of 46 OVA-sensitized mice challenged with pneumococci, 13 (28%) developed imaging findings consistent with pneumococcal pneumonia. In comparison, 28 (57%) of 49 non-sensitized control mice developed pneumococcal pneumonia (P = 0·005). While none of the control group developed meningitis (0%, none of 28), two mice in the OVA-sensitized group developed meningitis (15·4%, two of 13) (P = 0·09). The mean bacterial count in the lung was significantly lower in the OVA-sensitized than the non-sensitized group (8·26 ± 0·69 versus 9·21 ± 0·67 log₁₀ colony-forming units (CFU)/g, P = 0·002). There was a trend towards the mean bacterial count in the spleen being higher in the OVA-sensitized versus the non-sensitized group (8·14 ± 0·89 versus 7·45 ± 1·07 log₁₀ CFU/g, P = 0·071). A high level of interleukin (IL)-4 in lung homogenates was associated with risk of pneumococcal infection independent of sensitization with OVA (odds ratio: 49·7, 95% confidence interval 2·92-846·5, per increment of 1·0 pg/ml). In the murine model studied, acute allergic airway inflammation reduced susceptibility to pneumococcal pneumonia. IL-4 may increase the risk of pneumococcal pneumonia independently of allergic airway inflammation.

Keywords: Allergy; asthma; pneumonia; Streptococcus pneumoniae

Document Type: Research article

DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.1111/j.1365-2249.2009.03925.x

Affiliations: 1: Divisions of Infectious Diseases and 2: Allergy, Department of Medicine, Division of 3: Pediatric and Adolescent Medicine, College of Medicine, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, MN, USA

Publication date: 2009-06-01

Related content

• In this: publication
• By this: publisher
• In this Subject: Microbiology ,  Allergy & Immunology
• By this author: Kang, C.-I. ;  Rouse, M. S. ;  Patel, R. ;  Kita, H. ;  Juhn, Y. J.

Website © Publishing Technology. Article copyright remains with the publisher, society or author(s) as specified within the article.

• Terms and conditions
• Privacy policy
• Information for advertisers