SEB enhanced airway resistance and Th17 and Th2 cytokine expression in the lung of EC-sensitized and Ova airway challenged mice.

<p>Airway resistance (<i>R_L</i>) in response to increasing concentrations of methacholine was measured by the invasive PFT method (flexiVent). Cytokines in the BAL and lung tissues were measured by ELISA. (a) Changes in airway resistance (shown are combined data from two separate experiments; n = 4–5 per group; *<i>p</i><0.05). (b, d, e, f) IL-17A, IL-4, IL-13, and IFN-γ in the BAL; (c) IL-17A in lung tissue; and (g, h, i) Lymphocytes of bronchial lymph nodes produced IL-17A, IL-4, and IFN-γ, respectively (n = 7 each group; *p≤0.05, **p≤0.01).