Mouse models of allergic disease; how do they relate to asthma in man?

The article focuses on a study which describes a model of antigen challenge in sensitized mice, in which the presumably IL-5-dependent lung eosinophilia is divorced from antigen-induced changes in airway responsiveness. A similar claim has been made for a dissociation of airway responsiveness and bronchoalvolar lavage cell composition in sensitized guinea-pigs. This study showed that the antibody to IL-5 prevented lung eosinophilia without affecting bronchial hyperresponsiveness, while mast cells appeared to play an important role in the onset of hyperresponsiveness but did not play a role in the production of IL-5 and eosinophilia.