Investigating the therapeutic potential of polyclonal antibodies in a murine model of allergic asthma

Using the OVA mouse model of allergic airway disease, a histological grading system was established to evaluate four cardinal features of allergic asthma: Perivascular Inflammatory Cuffing, Peribronchial Inflammatory Cuffing, Goblet Cell Hyperplasia, and Tissue Eosinophilia. Using histochemical methods, this grading system was applied to identify a shallow dose response between allergen dose and resultant histopathology. This trend reached maximal effect with low doses of allergen and was observed in both perivascular and peribronchial cuffing thickness. A degree of goblet cell hyperplasia was observed in response to a low dose of allergen administration, but the dose response tended to plateau over the mid-range doses of allergen. Tissue eosinophilia was increased response to higher doses of allergen. In an investigation of the immune exclusionary capacity of Ruminant Polyclonal Antibodies (RPA), the histological grading system was applied to evaluate whether histopathological changes could be influenced or decreased by polyclonal antibodies. A non-specific action of allergen-specific Immunoglobulin G was identified. A pro-inflammatory tendency of an antibody:allergen complex was identified, and lung inflammation occurred as a result. These studies indicate the possibility that antibodies are able to act in an exclusionary manner at mucosal surfaces