# DEVELOPMENT OF ASTHMA

> **NIH NIH R01** · UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA, SAN FRANCISCO · 1989 · $189,764

## Abstract

We seek support for our studies of an inbred colony of allergic dogs, now
in its fifth generation.  These dogs are given live viral vaccines at the
time of immunization with ragweed pollen antigen in infancy; within weeks
they develop specific IgE antibodies.  Upon maturity, they experience
antigen-induced immediate and late-phase reactions in airways, skin and
nose, comparable to allergic human patients.  These unique dogs present an
extraordinary opportunity to study the pathogenesis of allergic reactions
by immunopharmacologic, biochemical, physiologic, and anatomic methods.
Specific aims are to assess the anatomic and biochemical responses to
immunologic and nonimmunologic stimuli on atypical and typical mast cells
and on circulating and resident inflammatory cells (granulocytes,
platelets, mononuclear cells) in skin and airways; and assess the
contribution of these cells to early- and late-phase inflammatory responses
and to increased physiologic responses to histamine and acetylcholine in
skin and airways, respectively.  We intend to define the anatomic and
functional characteristics of cultured dog airway mast cells in vitro and
compare them to subsets of mast cells in dog skin in vivo (using serial
skin biopsies and surface chambers to collect secreted mediators) in
response to nonimmunologic and immunologic stimuli.  We shall examine the
role of different types of mast cells in skin and airways in triggering
inflammatory responses and the roles of neutrophils and eosinophils in
production of increased skin and airway responsiveness following exposure
to antigen.  Hydroxyurea and poly- and monoclonal antisera to neutrophils
and eosinophils will be used to deplete such cells so that responsiveness
can be compared in presence or absence of these cells.  Drugs, humoral
agents, and transfused IgG antibodies will be given to try to modulate
these responses in skin and airways.  Hopefully, these results will suggest
new approaches that can be applied in future studies to prevent or treat
diseases in human allergic patients.

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 3126082
- **Project number:** 5R01AI015233-09
- **Recipient organization:** UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA, SAN FRANCISCO
- **SAM.gov UEI:** KMH5K9V7S518
- **Principal Investigator:** OSCAR L. FRICK
- **Activity code:** R01 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 1989
- **Award amount:** $189,764
- **Award type:** 5
- **Project period:** 1979-05-01 → 1989-11-30

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/3126082

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 3126082, DEVELOPMENT OF ASTHMA (5R01AI015233-09). Retrieved via MORVS 2026-10-25 from https://api.morvs.ai/grant/nih/3126082. Licensed CC0.

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