Fig. 6.

Effect of absence of caveolin-1 on airway epithelial expression of arginase and nitric oxide synthase. LCM-based mRNA analysis of epithelial layers showed that absence of caveolin-1, especially with OVA, resulted in the highest level of arginase 1 (Arg1) expression, as measured by quantitative RT-PCR (A, n = 4 animals for each set). The pattern of altered Arg1 expression was matched by enhanced arginase activity, especially in both Cav1 KO groups (B). Separately, in both WT and Cav1 KO airways, OVA sensitization/challenge significantly increased inducible NO synthase (iNOS) but decreased epithelial NO synthase (eNOS) expression, as measured by quantitative RT-PCR (C, n = 4 animals for each set). Values are means from 16 PCR reactions for each set ± SE. *Significant difference between WT and Cav1 KO; #significant difference between CTL and OVA (P < 0.05).