Aeroallergen-induced Eosinophilic Inflammation, Lung Damage, and Airways Hyperreactivity in Mice Can Occur Independently of IL-4 and Allergen-specific Immunoglobulins

In this investigation we have used a mouse model contain-ing certain phenotypic characteristics consistent with asthma and IL-4 – and CD40-deficient mice to establish the role of this cytokine and allergen-specific immunoglobulins in the ini-tiation of airways hyperreactivity and morphological changes to the airways in responses to aeroallergen challenge. Sensi-tization and aerosol challenge of mice with ovalbumin re-sulted in a severe airways inflammatory response which di-rectly correlated with the induction of extensive airways damage and airways hyperreactivity to