Effect of influenza virus infection on allergic sensitization to inhaled antigen in mice

Abstract

Repeated exposure of healthy mice to an aerosol of ovalbumin (OA) leads to the development of IgE-isotype-specific immunological tolerance. However, when initial OA exposure occurs during the acute phase of influenza infection, tolerance does not occur, and the mice instead develop high titres of OA-specific IgE in response to subsequent challenge with the allergen.