Figure 7. Neutralization of Th17-related cytokines inhibits cell recruitment to the lung but does not change cytokine and chemokine production.

OVA-sensitized BALB/c mice (5% aerosolized-OVA, day21 to 25) were challenged intranasally with PBS (control), rAg85B (rAg85B + isotype-matched control antibody (Ab)), rAg85B plus neutralizing IL-17 (rAg85B + IL-17Ab) or IL-22 (rAg85B + IL-22Ab), or a combination of both antibodies (rAg85B +IL-17/22Ab) on days 21, 23, and 25. The isotype control was treated with the same time course as neutralization Ab i.n. administration. One day after the last challenge, OVA-specific serum IgE concentration and levels of cytokines and chemokines in BAL fluid were determined by ELISA (A, B). BAL cells from naïve or OVA sensitized BALB/c mice treated with PBS or rAg85B with/without neutralization Ab were counted (C), and were stained with anti-Gr-1, anti-Siglec-F, anti-gd TCR, anti-CD3, anti-NKp46, and anti-CD127 for flow cytometric analysis. Numbers adjacent to outlined area indicate percent of eosinophils (Gr-1^dull, Siglec-F⁺), neutrophils (Gr-1⁺, Siglec-F^neg), γδT cells (Gr-1^neg, γδTCR⁺), NKp46⁺ cells (CD3^neg, NKp46⁺), LTi like cells (CD3^neg, L-7R⁺), and absolute numbers of those cell populations (side graphs) in BAL fluid (D). Data are representative of at least two independent experiments (*P<0.05, **P<0.01 compared with rAg85B+isotype control challenged group. error bars, s.d.; n = 6 mice).