Fig. 1. Dual vaccination with IL-4-K and IL-13-K reduces features of chronic asthma.

a Protocol outline. Mice were vaccinated with IL-4-K and/or IL-13-K (or PBS or CRM₁₉₇ as controls), combined with the adjuvant SWE. At day 39, mice were sensitized and challenged with HDM or PBS, as indicated. b, c Anti-IL-4 (b) and anti-IL-13 (c) neutralizing capacity in sera collected at the indicated time points. Data show values from individual mice (n = 12/group) with bars indicating median, from a single experiment representative of three independent experiments. d, e Lung resistance (d) and elastance (e) in response to inhaled methacholine 24 h after the last HDM challenge. Data represent mean ± SEM from two independent experiments (n = 8 mice in IL-4-K + IL-13-K/HDM group; n = 9 mice in PBS/PBS and CRM₁₉₇/HDM groups; or n = 10 mice in CRM₁₉₇/PBS, IL-4-K/HDM, and IL-13-K/HDM groups). f, g Numbers of eosinophils in BAL fluid (f) and lung tissue (g) 24 h after the last HDM challenge. Data show values from individual mice (n = 7 mice for HDM/CRM₁₉₇ group and n = 8 mice for all other groups) with bars indicating mean ± SEM, from a single experiment representative of two independent experiments. h Levels of IL-5 in BAL fluid 24 h after the last challenge. Data show values from individual mice (n = 8/group pooled from two independent experiments) with bars indicating mean ± SEM. i, j Representative lung sections stained with hematoxylin and eosin (H&E; revealing leukocyte infiltration) (i), or periodic acid–Schiff (PAS; revealing mucus-producing goblet cells in dark purple) (j). Lower panels in i and j represent magnifications of the dashed areas. Lung sections are representative of each group (n = 8 mice/group). P values in d and e were calculated using two-way ANOVA followed by a Tukey posttest. d: ### < 0.0001, # = 0.0381, ***: 0.003 for IL-13-K/HDM, 0.0002 for IL-4-K + IL-13-K/HDM, <0.0001 for CRM₁₉₇/PBS and PBS/PBS; e: ### < 0.0001, ** = 0.0019, ***: <0.0001 for all groups. P values in f–h were calculated using two-tailed Mann–Whitney U test (f–h) vs. CRM₁₉₇/PBS (f, g), CRM₁₉₇/HDM group (h), or indicated groups. Source data are provided in the Source data file.