Figure 2. RSV-infected DC instilled into the airways of mice can replace a live RSV infection for exacerbation of allergen-induced responses.

After an overnight infection, the washed DCs were transferred into the lungs of naïve mice by intratracheal administration, along with CRA. With the use of the same timeline as in Fig. 1, mice were challenged with CRA by intranasal (Day 14) and intratrachea delivery (Days 19 and 21), and 24 h after final allergen exposure, theresponses were assessed. The RSV-infected DCs induced a significant increase in AHR (A) compared with results with no DC + allergen or (continued) uninfected DC + allergen. When lung draining LN cells were restimulated in vitro with allergen at the end of the in vivo responses, changes in secreted cytokines were observed in the RSV-DC-treated mice compared with the other groups, as assessed in 48-h culture supernatants by Bio-Plex analysis (B). There was also a significant increase in mucus-associated genes in whole lung qPCR (C). Data represent mean ± se from five mice/group. *P < 0.05.