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From the * Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Mayo Clinic Arizona, Scottsdale,
Arizona 85259; We have generated transgenic mice that constitutively express murine interleukin (IL)-5 in the
lung epithelium. Airway expression of this cytokine resulted in a dramatic accumulation of
peribronchial eosinophils and striking pathologic changes including the expansion of bronchusassociated lymphoid tissue (BALT), goblet cell hyperplasia, epithelial hypertrophy, and focal
collagen deposition. These changes were also accompanied by eosinophil infiltration of the airway lumen. In addition, transgenic animals displayed airway hyperresponsiveness to methacholine in the absence of aerosolized antigen challenge. These findings demonstrate that lung-specific
IL-5 expression can induce pathologic changes characteristic of asthma and may provide useful
models to evaluate the efficacy of potential respiratory disease therapies or pharmaceuticals.
Department of Laboratory Animal Resources, Roswell Park Cancer Institute,
Buffalo, New York 14263; § Department of Environmental Health, Molecular and Cellular Physiology
and Medicine, University of Cincinnati, Cincinnati, Ohio 45267; and
Department of Pediatrics,
National Jewish Center for Immunology and Respiratory Medicine, Denver, Colorado 80206
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