Role of caveolin-1 in airway hyper-responsiveness and inflammation in response to house dust mite challenge

Abstract

Allergic asthma is a syndrome characterized by respiratory distress in response to environmental triggers. This atypical response to an allergen is an over reaction of the immune system causing an influx of inflammatory cells into the airway and concomitant airway smooth muscle constriction. Firstly, we demonstrate using whole house dust mite (HDM) extract as a sensitizing allergen produces an equivalent or more robust hyperresponsive and inflammatory reaction than can be achieved with the widely used ovalbumin (OVA) sensitization / challenge protocol. Secondly, we investigated the role of caveolin-1 in the pathophysiology of allergic asthma . Our data suggest an important role for cav-1 in down regulating allergic airway inflammation, leading to reduced airways hyperresponsiveness and mucus overproduction.