Bronchoconstriction and Airway Microvascular Leakage in Guinea Pigs Sensitized with Trimellitic Anhydride

Abstract We have developed a guinea pig model of immediate airway responses following intradermal sensitization with free trimellitic anhydride (TMA). Guinea pigs were given an intradermal injection with either 0.1 ml of 0.3% TMA in corn oil (n = 8) or 0.1 ml of corn oil alone (n = 6). A guinea pig serum albumin conjugate of trimellitic anhydride (TMA-GPSA) was prepared with a substitution ratio of 21:1. All sensitized guinea pigs had raised specific serum lgG1 antibodies (ELISA), and IgE antibodies were detected in six of the eight sensitized guinea pigs by passive cutaneous anaphylaxis. On Days 21 to 28, guinea pigs were anesthetized, tracheostomized, and ventilated. Evans blue dye (20 mg/ml), an albumin marker, was injected intravenously to quantify airway microvascular leakage (MVL). TMA-GPSA (50 µl; 1%) in saline was instilled into the trachea. Lung resistance (Rl) was measured for 6 min. The guinea pigs were killed, and the lungs were removed. Peak Rl (cm H2O/ml × s−1) was significantly increased in sensitized guinea pigs from 0.26 ± 0.01, mean ± SEM to 21.3 ± 6.9 (p < 0.05), compared with nonsensitized guinea pigs. There was a significant increase in Evans blue at all levels of the tracheobronchial tree in sensitized guinea pigs compared with the controls (p < 0.005). The site of MVL was localized to the postcapillary venules as assessed by extravasation of intravascular Monastral blue dye. We conclude that intradermal sensitization of guinea pigs to TMA induces a polyclonal immune response, associated with bronchoconstriction and airway microvascular leakage, when challenged specifically with TMA-GPSA. This guinea pig model may be useful in examining the pathogenesis of TMA-induced occupational asthma.