Protocol 1- Allergic sensitization, inflammatory cell numbers in the BALF, and AHR after HDM re-exposure.

<p><i>A</i>, HDM-specific IgE levels were increased in HDM exposed (group 1) and HDM re-exposed (group 3) mice compared to saline controls. Rapamycin (Rapa) attenuated HDM-induced increases in IgE after allergen re-exposure, while dexamethasone (Dex) had no effect (<i>n = </i>4–12 mice/group). *<i>p</i><0.05 versus saline; <<i>p</i><0.05 versus HDM Rest; ∧<i>p</i><0.05 versus HDM re-exposure; #<i>p</i><0.05 versus Dex. <i>B</i>, Total BALF cell numbers were increased in HDM exposed mice in groups 1 and 3, but not in mice that rested for 6 weeks after HDM exposure (group 2) and unaltered by Rapa or Dex treatment (<i>n = </i>4–12 mice/group). *<i>p</i><0.05 versus saline; <<i>p</i><0.05 versus HDM Rest. <i>C,</i> Total numbers of macrophages and eosinophils were increased after HDM re-exposure (group 3), but not in HDM rest (group 2) animals in the BALF. Total neutrophil numbers in the BALF were slightly increased after HDM re-exposure in Rapa treated mice. Rapa did not suppress HDM-induced increases in eosinophils. Eosinophil numbers were lower in Dex treated mice compared to HDM re-exposed and Rapa treated groups, but still higher then saline control (<i>n = </i>4–12 mice/group). *<i>p</i><0.05 versus saline; ∧<i>p</i><0.05 versus HDM re-exposure; <<i>p</i><0.05 versus HDM Rest; #<i>p</i><0.05 versus Dex. <i>D</i>, The percentage of eosinophils in the BALF was increased in all HDM exposed groups except HDM rest mice, while the percentage of macrophages were reduced. (<i>n = </i>4–12 mice/group). *<i>p</i><0.05 versus saline; ∧<i>p</i><0.05 versus HDM re-exposure; <<i>p</i><0.05 versus HDM Rest; #<i>p</i><0.05 versus Dex. <i>E</i>, AHR was increased after the initial set of HDM exposures (group 1) compared to saline controls and was still increased after allergen re-exposure (group 3). Neither Rapa nor Dex suppressed HDM-induced increases in AHR after allergen re-exposure. AHR was similar to controls in HDM rest mice (group 2) (<i>n = </i>6–14 mice/group). *<i>p</i><0.05 versus saline.