Fig. 5. A18 attenuates airway inflammation in mouse models of steroid-resistant and severe asthma.
(A) Four-week-old male C57BL/6 mice (n = 5 mice per group) were fed a normal CD or a HFD for 14 weeks, and during the last 4 weeks, they were treated with vehicle (DMSO) or A18. (B) Before the mice were sacrificed, lung resistance (RL) was determined. (C) At the time of sacrifice, lung tissue was subjected to RT-PCR analysis of the abundances of the indicated mRNAs. Data are means ± SEM of three independent experiments. *P < 0.05 when comparing HFD mice with A18-treated HFD mice. (D) C57BL/6 mice (n = 6 mice per group) were sensitized and challenged with HDM in the presence or absence of A18 as indicated. (E) Before the mice were sacrificed, lung resistance (RL) was determined. (F) Total and individual immune cell counts in the BAL of the indicated mice were determined. (G) BAL cytospins were prepared, and lung tissue was subjected to H&E staining. Scale bars, 100 μm. (H) The relative abundances of the indicated mRNAs isolated from lung tissue were determined by RT-PCR analysis. Data are means ± SEM of three independent experiments. *P < 0.05 when comparing HDM mice with A18-treated HDM mice.