FIG. 1.

Experimental design and intervention in the OA BALB/c mouse model. The initial sensitization step involves dermal application of 5% AP or vehicle (DMSO) on the dorsum of both ears (20 μL) on days 0 and 7. On day 14, the animals receive an intranasal instillation (40 μL) of 1% AP (challenge) or vehicle (saline). On day 15, the therapeutic approach consists of an intravenous injection of engineered mesenchymal stem cells (1×10⁶ cells; 250 μL) overexpressing either EGFP (hASC) or both sST2 and EGFP (hASC-sST2), or control vehicle (saline). Mice are then sacrificed at days 16, 18, and 21 to assess therapeutic efficacy. AP, ammonium persulfate; DMSO, dimethylsulfoxide; hASCs, human adipose-tissue-derived mesenchymal stem cells; OA, occupational asthma.