Figure 1.

Aoah^−/− mice have reduced HDM-induced allergic asthma. (A) Mice were sensitized with 10 µg HDM on days 0, 1, and 2 and challenged with 10 µg HDM daily from days 8–12. Mice were euthanized on day 14 for analysis. Control mice received PBS i.n. for sensitization and challenge. (B) Cells in BALF were analyzed following cytospin and Wright-Giemsa staining. Data were combined from three experiments. n = 9. (C) Paraformaldehyde-fixed lungs were cut and stained with H&E. n = 3–4. (D) Lung sections were stained with periodic acid-Schiff (PAS) to measure goblet cell hyperplasia and mucosal secretion in airways. n = 3–4. (E) HDM-specific IgE, IgG1, and IgG2c levels were measured in mouse sera using ELISA. Data were combined from three experiments. n = 9. (F) MLNs were harvested and single-cell suspensions were prepared. MLN cells were restimulated with medium containing 30 µg/ml HDM for 5 d. The culture media were used for ELISA assays. Data were combined from two experiments. n = 7–8. (G) In response to increasing doses of methacholine, the lung resistance was measured as described in Materials and methods. Data were combined from two experiments. n = 5–6. (B–F) Mann-Whitney test was used. (G) Two-way ANOVA was used. *, P < 0.05; **, P < 0.01; ***, P < 0.001.