CD23 deficient mice develop allergic airway hyperresponsiveness following sensitization with ovalbumin

The low affinity receptor for IgE (CD23) is reported to regulate immune and inflammatory events and as a result, it may have a role in the development of allergic airway inflammation and hyperresponsiveness (AHR). To test this hypothesis CD23-deficient mice were studied following different modes of allergic sensitization. Mice were actively sensitized either intraperitoneally with ovalbumin (OA)/alum or via the airways (10 days exposure to OA aerosol with no adjuvant). Passive sensitization was performed by intravenous injections of OA-specific IgE. Airway responsiveness, serum IgE and IgG levels were assessed together with airway inflammation. Passive sensitization followed by airway challenges resulted in increased OA-specific IgG and IgE in the serum of wild-type mice only, while both the CD23(+/+) and CD23(-/-) groups developed tracheal smooth muscle hyperresponsiveness to electrical field stimulation, indicating that IgE/CD23-mediated immune functions may not be necessary for the development of allergic changes. Active sensitization of both CD23(-/-) and CD23(+/+) mice resulted in increased serum levels of OA-specific IgE and IgG, airway eosinophilia and significant AHR when compared with nonsensitized mice. The genetic deficiency of CD23(-/-) mice not only failed to prevent but was associated with a significant increase of these responses. These results indicate that CD23 may not be essential for the development of allergen-induced AHR and further, that its presence may have some inhibitory effects on the allergic response.