A 7-Amino Acid Peptide Mimic from Hepatitis C Virus Hypervariable Region 1 Inhibits Mouse Lung Th9 Cell Differentiation by Blocking CD81 Signaling during Allergic Lung Inflammation

Figure 1

The 7-amino acid peptide (7P) dramatically inhibits Th9 cell differentiation during allergic lung inflammation after ovalbumin (OVA) sensitization and exposure in vivo. (a) C57BL6J mice ( each) were sensitized with OVA in adjuvant. Mice were exposed to OVA for inhalation 14–21 days later for 4 consecutive days. Mice were implanted with minipumps from days 13–19; 7P and sham-7P mice were given 6 μg/mouse. (b) Lung tissue sections were stained with hematoxylin and eosin (H&E) and visualized by light microscopy (original magnification 3100). (c) Pathological scoring was done on a traditional 1–4 scale (minimal, mild, moderate, marked) by two pathologists. The inflammatory score was counted by five slides of each normal, 7P-treated group, sham-7P, and vehicle group. (d) The percentages of IL-9⁺CD4⁺ T cells in lung tissue from 7P vs. sham-7P and vehicle minipumped mice were analyzed by flow cytometry 48 h after the last OVA exposure. (e) Flow cytometry scattergrams of IL-9⁺CD4⁺ T cells in the lung. (f) Il9, Il5, Il13, and Irf4 mRNA in the lung were examined by real-time PCR (, ).

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