A simple preparation method for mouse eosinophils and their responses to anti-allergic drugs

Objective and design: A simple method for preparing mouse eosinophils was established, and the characteristics of the eosinophils were assessed including their responses to anti-allergic drugs. Materials or subjects: Mouse eosinophils were prepared from peritoneal exudate cells of BALB/c mice primed and boosted with antigen ovalbumin (OVA). Methods: Surface phenotypes, migration activities and leukotriene C₄ (LTC₄) production abilities of these eosinophils were examined. In addition, the effects of anti-allergic drugs, oxatomide and tranilast, on generation of LTC₄ from mouse eosinophils were examined. Results: Eosinophils of mice boosted with OVA were phenotypically and functionally identical with human eosinophils. Around 1 × 10⁷ eosinophils were obtained from mouse peritoneal exudate. It was found that these mouse eosinophils enabled to migrate in response to eotaxin as well as platelet-activating factor (PAF), and generated LTC₄ by IL-5 stimulation. Moreover, it was revealed that clinically used anti-allergic drugs inhibited LTC₄-production dose-dependently. Conclusions: The present study provides a convenient method to obtain fully functional mouse eosinophils that are useful for drug screening and for evaluating implications of eosinophils in allergic responses. Received 20 April 2006; returned for revision 6 July 2006; returned for final revision 29 August 2006; accepted by M. Katori 29 September 2006