Physiological and immunological aspects of asthma: the guinea pig (Cavia porcellus) as a model of allergic asthma.

Abstract

Asthma is a chronic and heterogeneous airway disease characterized by a variety of respiratory symptoms associated with airflow limitation. Asthma patients exhibit altered immunological and physiological features in the airways, including inflammation, hyperresponsiveness, and, in severe cases, permanent structural changes that lead to airway obstruction. Among the different types of asthma, allergic asthma mediated by Th2 cells is the most prevalent phenotype worldwide. The diversity of etiological factors involved, the variability in symptom intensity, and the high global incidence have increased interest in studying this phenomenon. Due to the ethical constraints associated with studying asthma in humans, the development of animal models has emerged as an alternative for investigating the disease's pathophysiology. In particular, the guinea pig (Cavia porcellus) has become one of the most commonly used species, as it closely resembles the inflammatory, pharmacological, and physiological responses observed in the human airway. This article provides a comprehensive description of the development of an allergic asthma model in the guinea pig. The processes involved in each methodological phase are described in detail from an immunological and physiological perspective, emphasizing their importance in understanding the disease's pathophysiological mechanisms. It is argued that the airway inflammation, obstructive responses, and remodeling processes observed in this model are consistent with features seen in asthma patients, establishing the guinea pig as a reliable model for studying allergic asthma in humans.