Induction of IgE antibody production to aerosolized ovalbumin in mice treated intratracheally with aluminum silicate.

Induction of IgE antibody production was studied in mice with aerosolized antigen exposure and intratracheal instillation of adjuvants. BALB/c mice were immunized intratracheally with 10 micrograms ovalbumin (OA) adsorbed with or without aluminum silicate as an adjuvant. A primary IgE antibody production was observed in mice immunized with OA plus adjuvant, but not with OA alone. In mice immunized with OA plus adjuvant, a secondary IgE antibody production was observed after a booster of OA aerosol exposure on day 28. Mice were instilled intratracheally with aluminum silicate or aluminum hydroxide (alum) and subsequently exposed to aerosolized OA for 30 min. Primary and secondary anti-OA IgE antibody productions were obtained in the groups instilled with the adjuvants. After the intratracheal instillation of alum, aluminum remained in the mice for a long period. These results suggest that the intratracheal instillation of adjuvants is effective in the induction of IgE antibody production by aerosolized antigen exposure.