β-Glucan and LPS modulate HDM induced allergic airway inflammation.

<p>(A) Timeline for HDM sensitization and challenge (10 μg) in C57BL/6 wild type mice with HDM or HDM plus β-glucan (1x10⁷ particles) and LPS (100 ng), as indicated. (B) Airway inflammation in challenged C57BL/6 mice showing the number of total leukocytes, eosinophils (Siglec-F^hiGr-1^loCD11c^lo), neutrophils (Gr-1^hiCD11b^hiF4/80^lo), inflammatory macrophage/monocytes (F4/80^hiCD11b^hiGr-1^lo) and T cells (CD3^hiCD4^hi) in the BALF. (C) Pulmonary cytokine concentrations in BALF of challenged mice, as indicated. (D) HDM-specific serum IgE levels in challenged mice, as indicated. (E) H&E and PAS stains (left) of formalin fixed lung sections from mice challenged as indicated. Scale bars represent 100 μm (H&E) and 50 μm (PAS). Quantification (right) of mucus producing goblet cells in PAS stained sections. (F) Airway resistance (R) in intubated C57BL/6 wild type mice exposed to increasing doses of nebulised methacholine (MCh), as indicated. *p<0.05, n.s., not significant. Shown (b–f) are the mean ± SEM of pooled data from at least two independent experiments (n = 14–16 mice/group).