Abstract: Objective To explore the method of establishing pulmonary allergic inflammation model in C57BL/6 mice sensitized and challenged with house dust mite Dermatophagoides farinae (Der f). Methods C57BL/6 mice were divided into control group and treatment group. The mice of treatment group were sensitized by intra peritoneal injection of house dust mite extracts at day 1, 3, 5, 7, 9 and 11. Then they were exposed to aerosolized allergen at day 13, 16, 19, 20 and 21. Physiological saline instead of house dust mite extracts was used in control group. All mice underwent pulmonary lavage in 24h after the last time of exposure to aerosolized allergen challenge. Pathological manifestation of the lung, cell counts and classification were studied and IL-4 and IFN-γ levels in BALF were detected by ELISA. Cells from spleen were cultured for 3d with house dust mite extracts, IL-4 and IFN-γ in supernatants was measured by ELISA. Results There was pulmonary eosinophilic inflammation in the mice treated with house dust mite extracts compared with control group. Total cells, lymphocytes, eosinophils and the level of IL-4 in BALF from treated mice increased significantly，while IFN-γ in BALF decreased. The level of IL-4 in cultured splenocyte supernatants also increased significantly，while IFN-γ in supernatants decreased. Conclusions A pulmonary allergic inflammation model of C57BL/6 mice has been established by sensitized and challenged with house dust mite Der f.

Key words: allergen, asthma, animal model, house dust mite Dermatophagoides farinae