Background: Allergic rhinitis is a prevalent disease with significant morbidity. Studies of its
pathophysiology in human subjects have been limited. Nasal biopsy specimens are difficult
to obtain, and nasal secretions incompletely reflect the cellular and molecular events in the
mucosa. IgE-mediated mast cell activation and the elaboration of factors promoting
eosinophil development and chemotaxis are likely to participate in pathogenesis.
Objectives: We sought to develop a murine model of allergic rhinitis, to use it to assess the …