Fig. 1

PepN-pretreatment inhibits HDM-induced allergic inflammation and increases CD11c^high macrophage levels. a Experimental design in BALB/c mice. Mice were intranasally instilled with PepN protein (50 μg in 30 μl PBS). Two days after treatment, mice were sensitized with 1 μg HDM (day 0) and challenged with 10 μg HDM (days 7 to 11) i.n.. b, c The number of total inflammatory cells (b) and differential cell counts (c) in BALF (n = 3–10). d Microscopic images of H&E-, PAS- and toluidine blue-stained (TBO) lung tissue sections of mice (200 × magnification), mast cells were shown by arrows. e mRNA relative level of Th2 cytokines in lung tissues. f ELISA of Th2 cytokines in lung homogenate (n = 5–8). g, h Percentage (g) and absolute number (h) of macrophages (F4/80⁺CD11c^high/int/−) in mice lungs were measured by flow cytometry (n = 5–7). Statistical analysis by one-way ANOVA with Tukey’s multiple-comparison test (b, c and e–h). Data are represented as mean ± SD (b, c and e–h). ns, not significant