[Heat-killed Mycobacterium bovis-Bacillus Calmette-Guerin prevents experimental respiratory tract eosinophilia in mice].

Introduction: The increased prevalence of asthma has become a major public health issue worldwide. It has been proposed that this increase is due to the steady decline of infectious diseases such as tuberculosis.
Aim of the Study: Supporting this view was, the suppressive effect of live Bacillus Calmette-Guerin (BCG) infection on allergen (ovalbumin) induced airway eosinophilia was published previously.
Methods: Next the authors compared the effects of live, heat killed BCG and purified protein derivative of Mycobacterium tuberculosis (PPD) on a murine model of ovalbumin induced airway eosinophilia.
Results: The results showed that both live and heat killed BCG, but not PPD strongly suppressed airway eosinophilia. This inhibition was correlated with the reduced number of Th2 cells in the lung.
Conclusion: Their data support the hypothesis that the application of bacterial antigens may be a safe vaccination method against asthma in the future.