Prolonged Antigen Ingestion by Sensitized Mice Ameliorates Airway Inflammation

Figure 3

Lung IL-4, CCL-2, CCL-11, IL-10 levels, and Foxp3 mRNA expression. BALB/c mice were sensitized with ovalbumin (OVA) in Al(OH)₃ (day 0) and with OVA on day 14. They were subjected to drink water (control group and aerosol group) or OVA (oral group and oral/aerosol group) for 20 days (days 21 to 41). For 6 days (days 36 to 41), mice (aerosol group and oral/aerosol group) were aerosolized with OVA or saline (control group and oral group). (a) Levels of IL-4. (b) Levels of CCL-2. (c) Levels of CCL-11. (d) Levels of IL-10. (e) Increased expression of Foxp3 mRNA. Values represent the means +/− SEM, 𝑛=5, representative of 2 experiments, *significant difference (𝑃<0.05) aerosol group versus control group, ** aerosol group versus oral/aerosol group, # oral/aerosol group versus oral group, and ## control group versus aerosol, oral and oral/aerosol groups.

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