Laundry Detergents Enhance Sensitization to Co-Inhaled Allergens and Exacerbate Airway Inflammation in Mice.

Abstract

BACKGROUND: Our previous study demonstrated that laundry detergents induce group 2 innate lymphoid cell-driven eosinophilic airway inflammation by disrupting airway epithelial barriers and promoting IL-33 release, and that detergent residues are present in nearly all household dust. However, their impact on allergen-induced airway inflammation remains unclear. METHODS: C57BL/6 background mice were intranasally primed four times with ovalbumin (OVA) or house dust mite (HDM) allergens in the presence or absence of a commercial laundry detergent. Following priming, mice were challenged with the same antigen for 3 consecutive days and sacrificed the day after the final challenge. Bronchoalveolar lavage fluid (BALF) and sera were analyzed by ELISA. Lungs were evaluated histologically and analyzed by qPCR. RESULTS: Mice intranasally primed with antigen in the presence of detergent exhibited eosinophilic airway inflammation upon antigen challenge, accompanied by increased IL-5 and IL-13 levels in the BALF. Intranasal administration of detergent and antigen also stimulated antigen-specific IgE production. These detergent- and allergen-induced type 2 responses were significantly suppressed in Il33and Il13mice. Administration of an anti-IL-4 receptor α chain antibody during the challenge phase reduced eosinophil counts in the BALF and antigen-specific IgE levels in the serum. By contrast, anti-IL-33 antibody treatment during the challenge phase did not affect eosinophilic airway inflammation or antigen-specific IgE production. CONCLUSIONS: Laundry detergents promote sensitization to co-inhaled allergens and exacerbate eosinophilic airway inflammation and antigen-specific IgE responses via IL-33 and IL-13. These findings suggest that detergents can act as adjuvants that facilitate airway sensitization.