The Role of IL-17 in the Association between Pneumococcal Pneumonia and Allergic Sensitization
Figure 2
Correlation between IL17 levels in lung homogenates and pneumococcal colony counts in spleen. To assess the effect of IL-17 on the risk of invasive pneumococcal disease instead of pneumococcal pneumonia, the correlation between IL-17 levels in the lung and pneumococcal colony count in the spleen, which should be sterile normally, was assessed. When mice developed invasive pneumococcal disease involving the spleen (by bioluminescence) or expired, we measured IL-17 levels and pneumococcal colony counts in the lung. There was a significant correlation between IL-17 levels in the lung homogenate and pneumococcal colony counts in the spleen among the OVA-sensitized/challenged mice (, ), but no significant correlation was found in the control mice. OVA sensitization/challenge modified the effect of IL-17 on the risk of invasive pneumococcal disease. *log CFU: lo4g10 colony forming units of pneumococci.
