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American Journal of Respiratory Cell and Molecular Biology. Vol. 27, pp. 244-249, 2002
© 2002 American Thoracic Society

The Effect of Bacillus Calmette-Guérin Immunization Depends on the Genetic Predisposition to Th2-Type Responsiveness

Machteld N. Hylkema, Wim Timens, Marjan Luinge, Nienke van der Werf and Maarten O. Hoekstra

Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, University Hospital Groningen, Groningen; and Department of Pediatrics, Wilhelmina Children's Hospital, Utrecht, The Netherlands

Address correspondence to: Prof. Dr. W. Timens, Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, University Hospital Groningen, P.O. Box 30.001, 9700 RB, Groningen, The Netherlands. E-mail: w.timens{at}path.azg.nl

The aim of this study was to investigate whether the effect of bacillus Calmette-Guérin (BCG) immunization on ovalbumin-induced allergic inflammation in a rat model depends on the genetic predisposition to react with a T helper cell (Th) 2-type cytokine response. This study was performed in an inbred Th2-predisposed "asthma prone" rat strain (brown Norway [BN]) and in an outbred nonpredisposed strain (Sprague Dawley [SD]), to differentiate between genetic and environmental factors. BCG decreased numbers of lung eosinophils and macrophages in the SD rat. This effect was not seen in the BN rat. In the BN rat, but not in the SD rat, BCG downregulated levels of total serum IgE. No significant differences were found with respect to frequencies of IFN{gamma}– or interleukin-4–producing cells in the lung in both rat strains. These results indicate that the degree and pathway of immunomodulatory effect of BCG in two genetically different rat strains is dependent on the genetic predisposition to develop a Th2-type response. Therefore, differences in genotype in relation to environment may result in difference in involvement of contributing pathogenic factors and thus different responsiveness to therapeutic strategies.

Abbreviations: Antibody, Ab • bacillus Calmette-Guérin, BCG • brown Norway, BN • 3,3'Diaminobenzidine, DAB • interleukin, IL • monoclonal antibody, mAb • ovalbumin, OVA • reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction, RT-PCR • Sprague Dawley, SD • T helper cell, Th




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Copyright © 2002 American Thoracic Society.