Allergen inhalation results in acute bronchoconstriction, beginning within 15-30 min and lasting 1-3 hr, followed by the development of a late asthmatic response. Allergen inhalation challenge has been used for examining the mechanisms of allergen-induced airway inflammation and the associated physiological changes and for documenting the efficacy of drugs to treat asthma. Asthma is a chronic inflammatory disease of the airways characterized by the symptoms of dyspnea, chest tightness, cough and wheezing, and by variable airflow obstruction and airway hyperresponsiveness to a wide variety of physical and inhaled chemical stimuli.
The individuals who develop both an early and late response to allergen have more marked increases in airway hyperresponsiveness, and greater increases in allergen-induced airway inflammation, particularly in airway eosinophils and basophils. Allergen…
