Figure 11. IL-13 and dust mite allergen induce SPDEF and cause goblet cell hyperplasia.

(A and B) Immunohistochemistry for SPDEF was performed on lung sections of control (A) and Stat-6^–/– (B) mice that were treated intratracheally with IL-13. SPDEF staining was increased at sites of goblet cell hyperplasia, but absent in conducting airways of Stat-6^–/– mice. (C and D) SPDEF was increased in association with goblet cell hyperplasia caused by intratracheal exposure to house dust mite allergens in wild-type mice (C), but not in the conducting airways of exposed IL-13^–/– mice (D). Insets for A–D represent higher magnification views of these airways; original magnification, ×20. Scale bars: 200 μm.