Treatment of mice with fenbendazole attenuates allergic airways inflammation and Th2 cytokine production in a model of asthma
Date
2009
Authors
Cai, Yeping
Zhou, Jiansheng
Webb, Dianne
Journal Title
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Volume Title
Publisher
Blackwell Publishing Ltd
Abstract
Mouse models have provided a significant insight into the role of T-helper (Th) 2 cytokines such as IL-5 and IL-13 in regulating eosinophilia and other key features of asthma. However, the validity of these models can be compromised by inadvertent infection of experimental mouse colonies with pathogens such as oxyurid parasites (pinworms). While the benzimidazole derivative, fenbendazole (FBZ), is commonly used to treat such outbreaks, the effects of FBZ on mouse models of Th2 disease are largely unknown. In this investigation, we show that mice fed FBZ-supplemented food during the in utero and post-weaning period developed attenuated lung eosinophilia, antigen-specific IgG1 and Th2 cytokine responses in a model of asthma. Treatment of the mediastinal lymph node cells from allergic mice with FBZ in vitro attenuated cell proliferation, IL-5 and IL-13 production and expression of the early lymphocyte activation marker, CD69 on CD4+ T cells and CD19+ B cells. In addition, eosinophilia and Th2 responses remained attenuated after a 4-week withholding period in allergic mice treated preweaning with FBZ. Thus, FBZ modulates the amplitude of Th2 responses both in vivo and in vitro.
Description
Keywords
Keywords: CD69 antigen; fenbendazole; immunoglobulin G1; interleukin 13; interleukin 5; animal cell; animal experiment; animal model; animal tissue; antigen expression; article; asthma; B lymphocyte; CD4+ T lymphocyte; cell proliferation; controlled study; cytokine Allergy; Anthelmintics; Eosinophils; Th2 cytokines
Citation
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Source
Immunology and Cell Biology
Type
Journal article
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DOI
10.1038/icb.2009.47
Restricted until
2037-12-31