Development and treatment of steroid resistant asthma model by adoptive transfer of murine helper t cell clones

Methods For in vitro evaluation of steroid sensitivity, ovalbumin (OVA) reactive Th clones were cultured with antigen presenting cells and OVA in the presence of various concentrations of dexamethasone (DEX). Proliferative responses of Th clones were measured by H-thymidine incorporation. For in vivo evaluation, unprimed BALB/c mice were transferred with Th clones, challenged with OVA, and administered with DEX subcutaneously. Bronchoalveolar lavage fluid (BALF) was obtained 48 hr after challenge, and the number of infiltrating cells was differentially counted. CTLA4-Ig was administered either intravenously or intranasally.