Development and translational validation of a novel mouse model for allergic rhinitis
- 1McGill University
Abstract
Background: Approximately 30% of the North American population are affected by seasonal or perennial rhinitis. Allergens from cats are common triggers of allergic rhinitis. Importantly, cat allergic rhinitis (cat-AR) is a major risk factor for more severe allergic diseases, including asthma. Current therapies rarely achieve full symptom control and development of novel therapeutics is constrained by the lack of physiologically relevant preclinical models. Objective: Establishment of a clinically-informed mouse model of cat allergen exposure in humans. Methods: Controlled human exposure was performed using airborne natural cat dander (CD) in a validated environmental exposure facility. Nasal immune cells and IgE concentrations in serum and nasal samples were assessed. In mice, we established a 14-day intermittent intranasal sensitization and challenge protocol using the same CD allergens. Clinical signs in mice were objectively quantified using AI-based video detection. Cellular changes in the nose were assessed with level-specific, spatial resolution. Lastly, systemic sensitization was confirmed through serum IgE and intradermal ear challenge. Measurements and Main Results: Following CD exposure, cat-allergic participants displayed increased nasal symptoms and eosinophil influx. CD-sensitized mice recapitulated key clinical features, including increased nasal rubbing, elevated nasal immune cell infiltration, and systemic sensitization. Importantly, spatial investigation of the cellular changes revealed major changes in the turbinate and olfactory regions of the nose. Conclusions: This novel mouse model provides a translationally valuable platform for investigating local and systemic mechanisms of cat-AR. It will serve for mechanistic and therapeutic evaluations with the goal of improving clinical translation and therapeutic precision.
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BibTeX
@misc{hossenbaccus2026development,
title = {{Development and translational validation of a novel mouse model for allergic rhinitis}},
author = {L. Hossenbaccus and W. P. Taylor and S. Teimouri Nezhad and J. M. Taylor and C. Haird and A. Liaghat and S. E. Hopkins and V. Jeyanathan and T. Rudolf and A. J. Paz and H. Botting and L. M. Steacy and F. Chouiali and T. Walker and J. Sanz and S. Garvey and J. Schinkothe and A. K. Ellis and E. Kaufmann},
howpublished = {bioRxiv},
year = {2026},
month = sep,
doi = {10.64898/2026.09.03.749032},
url = {https://www.biorxiv.org/content/10.64898/2026.09.03.749032v1},
note = {CC BY-NC-ND},
}
RIS
TY - UNPB
TI - Development and translational validation of a novel mouse model for allergic rhinitis
AU - L. Hossenbaccus
AU - W. P. Taylor
AU - S. Teimouri Nezhad
AU - J. M. Taylor
AU - C. Haird
AU - A. Liaghat
AU - S. E. Hopkins
AU - V. Jeyanathan
AU - T. Rudolf
AU - A. J. Paz
AU - H. Botting
AU - L. M. Steacy
AU - F. Chouiali
AU - T. Walker
AU - J. Sanz
AU - S. Garvey
AU - J. Schinkothe
AU - A. K. Ellis
AU - E. Kaufmann
PY - 2026
DA - 2026/09/03
PB - bioRxiv
DO - 10.64898/2026.09.03.749032
UR - https://www.biorxiv.org/content/10.64898/2026.09.03.749032v1
AB - Background: Approximately 30% of the North American population are affected by seasonal or perennial rhinitis. Allergens from cats are common triggers of allergic rhinitis. Importantly, cat allergic rhinitis (cat-AR) is a major risk factor for more severe allergic diseases, including asthma. Current therapies rarely achieve full symptom control and development of novel therapeutics is constrained by the lack of physiologically relevant preclinical models. Objective: Establishment of a clinically-informed mouse model of cat allergen exposure in humans. Methods: Controlled human exposure was performed using airborne natural cat dander (CD) in a validated environmental exposure facility. Nasal immune cells and IgE concentrations in serum and nasal samples were assessed. In mice, we established a 14-day intermittent intranasal sensitization and challenge protocol using the same CD allergens. Clinical signs in mice were objectively quantified using AI-based video detection. Cellular changes in the nose were assessed with level-specific, spatial resolution. Lastly, systemic sensitization was confirmed through serum IgE and intradermal ear challenge. Measurements and Main Results: Following CD exposure, cat-allergic participants displayed increased nasal symptoms and eosinophil influx. CD-sensitized mice recapitulated key clinical features, including increased nasal rubbing, elevated nasal immune cell infiltration, and systemic sensitization. Importantly, spatial investigation of the cellular changes revealed major changes in the turbinate and olfactory regions of the nose. Conclusions: This novel mouse model provides a translationally valuable platform for investigating local and systemic mechanisms of cat-AR. It will serve for mechanistic and therapeutic evaluations with the goal of improving clinical translation and therapeutic precision.
ER -