Making animals allergic to help us

What is it about?

The goal was to describe the histopathological and immune results of a rat model of allergic blepharoconjunctivitis (BC) and show that it could be used to test BC treatments. Methods: Sprague–Dawley (SD) rats were vaccinated with ovalbumin (OVA) and then given OVA (BC group) or PBS (control group) to lick. A corticosteroid group was given triamcinolone acetate 24 hours before the challenge. Tissues were taken out for histology, flow cytometry, and cytokine studies after morphological traits were looked at. The rats in the BC group got scratches, redness, and swelling in their conjunctiva 24 hours after being exposed to OVA. Rats that had been given corticosteroids or PBS before the challenge were not affected. The BC features were reduced despite frequent challenges for 5 days. It was seen that a lot of immune cells invaded the conjunctivae of BC rats, but not in any of the other groups. In the conjunctival tissues, more than 77% of the CD45+7AAD− cells were made up of T cells, mono-macrophages, neutrophils, and NK cells. T cell numbers were higher 96 hours after the challenge compared to 24 hours after the challenge, while macrophage numbers went down during the same time period. Eosinophils and intraepithelial neutrophils were identified in the BC rats, but not in the PBS and cortisone groups. IL-4 and IL-6 levels were about the same in BC eyes as they were in controls, but IFN-γ and IL-2 levels were much higher. In this rat model, a strong BC reaction was seen, but it was slowed down by pre-treatment with corticosteroids. The types of immune cells and cytokines that they make changed over time.

Featured Image

Photo by Annemarie Horne on Unsplash

Photo by Annemarie Horne on Unsplash

Why is it important?

We need to find new treatment for allergies

Perspectives