Airway Exposure to 1,3-Beta-d-Glucan Induces Airway Hyperresponsiveness in Guinea Pigs

1,3-Beta-d-glucan (β-glucan) is a component of mold cell walls and is frequently found in fungi and house dust mites. The studies of β-glucan are inconsistent, although it has been implicated in airway adverse responses. This study was carried out to determine whether airway hyperresponsiveness was seen 24 h after airway exposure to β-glucan in guinea pigs. Two matching guinea pigs were exposed intratracheally to either β-glucan or its vehicle. Twenty-four hours after intratracheal instillation, there was no difference between these two groups in the baseline of the total pulmonary resistance (RL), dynamic lung compliance (Cdyn), arterial blood pressure, and heart rate. In contrast, the responses of RL to capsaicin injection were significantly increased in β-glucan animals; capsaicin at the same dose of 3.2 μg/kg increased RL by 184% in vehicle animals and by 400% in β-glucan animals. The effective dose 200% to capsaicin injection was lower in the β-glucan animals. Furthermore, the increases in RL were partially reduced after transient lung hyperinflation to recruit the occluding airways; however, the RL induced by capsaicin injection after lung hyperinflation was significantly larger than the baseline in β-glucan animals; also, the lung wet-to-dry ratio in capsaicin-injected animals was augmented in the β-glucan group. Moreover, the airway hyperresponsiveness was accompanied by increases in neutrophils in the bronchoalveolar lavage fluid in the β-glucan animals. Furthermore, the levels of substance P and the calcitonin gene-related peptide in the bronchoalveolar lavage fluid collected after capsaicin injection were increased in β-glucan animals. We provide definitive evidence that β-glucan can induce airway hyperresponsiveness in guinea pigs, and the neuropeptide releases play an important role in this airway hyperresponsiveness.