Importance of inflammatory and immune components in a mouse model of airway reactivity to toluene diisocyanate (TDI)

Background Nearly 9 million individuals are exposed to agents in the workplace associated with asthma, and isocyanates represent the most common cause of occupationally induced asthma. Objectives Nonetheless, the immunological mechanisms responsible for isocyanate-induced asthma are not clear. A murine model for toluene diisocyanate (TDI) asthma is described and employed to examine inflammatory and immune components that may be involved in the disease. Methods Groups (n = 6) of C57BL/6J and athymic mice were sensitized by subcutaneous injection (20 mul on day 1, 5 mul days 4 and 11), and 7 days later challenged by inhalation (100 p.p.b., days 20, 22 and 24) with TDI. Twenty-four hours following the last challenge the tracheae and lungs were examined for histological changes as well as for the expression of Th1, Th2 and pro-inflammatory cytokines. Mice were also examined for airway reactivity to methacholine challenge and for specific and total IgE and IgG antibodies. Results TDI sensitization resulted in increased reactivity to methacholine challenge as well as a significant inflammatory response in the trachea and nares of wild-type mice, but not in the athymic mice nor in the lungs of the C57BL/6J mice. Airway inflammation was characterized by inflammatory cell influx, goblet cell metaplasia and epithelial damage. Histological changes in the trachea were accompanied by increased mRNA expression of interleukin (IL)-4, tumour necrosis factor alpha, lymphotoxin beta, lymphotactin and Rantes, as well as TDI-specific IgG antibodies and elevated levels of total IgE. IgE-specific antibodies were not detected with this exposure regimen but were produced when the TDI concentrations were increased. Conclusions These studies provide a unique murine model for occupational asthma that generates both inflammatory and immune mediators similar to those occurring in TDI-induced asthma in humans.