Complete dependence on CD4 + cells in late asthmatic response,but limited contribution of the cells to airway remodeling in sensitized mice

It is known that the late asthmatic response (lar),a characteristic feature of asthma,is closely associated with cd4+ th2 cell - mediated allergic inflammation. airway remodeling is also a pathogenesis of asthma,but literature reporting roles of cd4+ cells in the remodeling is controversial. there has been no study that simultaneously assessed the roles of cd4+ cells in both lar and airway remodeling. sensitized mice were intratracheally challenged with ovalbumin 4 times. treatment with an anti-cd4 monoclonal antibody (mab) before the 1st challenge almost completely abolished increase in cd4+ cells in the tissues after the 4th challenge. the late phase increase in airway resistance after the 4th challenge was also completely inhibited by anti-cd4 mab. parameters of airway remodeling,subepithelial fibrosis and epithelial thickening were attenuated by treatment,whereas the inhibition was only 30% - 40%. bronchial smooth muscle thickening was not affected. because interleukin (il)-5 production as well as eosinophilia was effectively suppressed by anti-cd4 mab,the effect of anti-il-5 mab was also examined,resulting in no inhibition of airway remodeling. collectively,although the lar was completely dependent on cd4+ cell activation,airway remodeling was only partially dependent on the cell. © the japanese pharmacological society.