Mouse models of asthma

  • Mouse models

    The features regarding the asthma mouse model are as followed:

    • Ovalbumin, house dust mite exposure or mixed allergens
    • Airway eosinophilia, cytokine production,
    • Airway hyperresponsiveness,
    • Airway smooth muscle thickening,
    • Goblet cell hyperplasia,
    • Subepithelial fibrosis,
    • Pulmonary vascular remodeling.

    We have previously shown efficacy of anticholinergics, in particular M3 selective anticholinergics in the asthma mouse model by using C57Bl/6 mice.
    For this model however both  C57Bl/6 and Balb/c mice can be used.
    Balb/c mice have more profound eosinophilic inflammation, whereas the remodeling is comparable between these strains. See publication

Guinea pig models of asthma

  • Guinea pig model of acute asthma

    Guinea pigs are excellent as a model system for asthma.
    Using a balloon catheter  to measure lung function online in freely moving unrestrained animals. Not only can the hyperresponsiveness to histamine be tested, but also the nature and size of the early and late asthmatic response can be measured including effects of pharmacological treatments here on.

    Features:

    • Single ovalbumin challenge,
    • Early and late asthmatic reactions,
    • Airway hyperresponsiveness to histamine (PC100) after the early and late asthmatic reaction,
    • Influx of inflammatory cells, notably eosinophils, and expression of pro-inflammatory cytokines.

    We have previously demonstrated efficacy of bronchodilator drugs (β2 agonists, anticholinergics, Rho-kinase inhibitors) and anti-inflammatory drugs (glucocorticopsteroids, arginase inhibitors) in this model. See publication

  • Guinea pig model of chronic asthma

    Features:

    • Weekly ovalbumin challenges for 12 weeks,
    • Eeosinophilic airway inflammation in the large and the small airways,
    • Airway smooth muscle thickening,
    • Mucus gland hypertrophy, goblet cell differentiation and MUC5A/C expression
    • Increased airway contractility.

    We have previously demonstrated efficacy of anticholinergics, glucocorticosteroids and arginase inhibitors against allergen induced remodeling using this model and can test your compound in a similar way.

    A clear advantage of the guinea pig is that both cartilaginous (large airways) and non-cartilaginous airways (small airways) can be identified which show differential characteristics of inflammation and remodeling, which is also observed in humans and cannot be modeled in mice.