Abstract: Objective: To establish an asthma mice model with airway colonized by Haemophilus influenzae. Method: Eighty BALB/C mice were grouped into 4 groups: normal control, Haemophilus influenza colonization, asthma control, asthma with Haemophilus influenza colonization. Mice asthma was induced by sensitizing and challenging with ovalbumin（OVA）, and airway Haemophilus influenza colonization was established by intratracheal instillation of agar-coated Haemophilus influenza. Half of the mice in each group were sacrificed at 7th day, and the other half at 21 th day. Lung tissue was obtained for histopathologic examination and bacterial culture; serum and bronchoaveolar fluid (BALF) TNF-α levels were detected, and cell count in BALF was determined. Results: Compared with normal control and asthma control groups, asthma with Haemophilus influenza colonization group showed obviously asthma and infection symptoms, with pathological characteristics including obvious airway thickening, mucosa edema, mucus secretion and inflammatory cells infiltration in lung tissue. WBC and neutrophils count in BALF increased significantly and level of TNF-α in serum and BALF were significantly higher in asthma with Haemophilus influenzae colonization group; Haemophilus influenzae was found in bacteria culture. Conclusions: Asthma mice model with airways colonized by Haemophilus influenzae could be established by intratracheal instillation of agar-coated Haemophilus influenzae in asthma mice induced by OVA sensitizing and challenging.

Key words: Asthma, Haemophilus influenzae, Disease model, animal