NP administration modulates cytokine production of splenic pDCs and enhances allergic lung inflammation <i>in vivo</i>.

<p>BALB/c mice were fed daily with nonylphenol (NP) or corn oil only (NC) for 10 days. (<b>A</b>) Representative flow cytometric staining pattern of NP-exposed mice with the viable plasmacytoid dendritic cells (pDCs) (R1) is indicated. (<b>B</b>) Symbols represent pDC percentage from individual mice in NC or NP-exposed group. Purified pDCs were further stimulated with CpG-D19 for IFN-α (<b>C</b>), CpG-1668 for TNF-α (<b>D</b>) and IL-12 (<b>E</b>) or R848 for IL-12 (<b>F</b>) production. Each symbol represents data from individual mice (<b>B</b>–<b>D</b>) or pool cells from two mice (<b>E</b>, <b>F</b>). (<b>G</b>) BALB/c mice were intraperitoneally (i.p.) received PBS, OVA or OVA plus NP (50 µg/kg BW) emulsified with Al(OH)₃ on day 0. Three weeks later, all groups of mice were received three daily 3% OVA aerosol challenges (inhalation; i.h.). The next day after the last challenge, cells in bronchoalveolar lavage fluid were analyzed using flow cytometry. <i>N</i> = 3–9 mice per group. Data are from two independent experiments. The line within the vertical points marks the mean for each group. *: <i>p<</i>0.05 compared with NC using nonparametric Mann-Whitney <i>U</i> test. DC, dendritic cells; MΦ, macrophages.