Murine Model of Allergic Lung Inflammation

Animal models of allergic lung inflammation have been developed in an attempt to better define the pathogenesis of asthma. Using these models, important mechanistic questions that are difficult to pursue through clinical investigation have been addressed. Classically guinea pigs were used, but during the last decade an increasing number of research groups have used murine models. This is due to the fact that many immunological tools to study immune mechanisms are available for mice, such as inbred mice strains, transgenic and gene deleted mice, antibodies against murine cellular markers, and recombinant murine soluble protein.