Fig. 3. Dual therapeutic vaccination with IL-4-K and IL-13-K ameliorates chronic asthma.

a Protocol outline. Mice were sensitized and challenged with HDM extract (or PBS as a control), as indicated. After the third challenge, mice were vaccinated with IL-4-K and IL-13-K (or CRM₁₉₇ as control), combined with the adjuvant SWE. b, c Anti-IL-4 (b) and anti-IL-13 (c) neutralizing capacity in sera collected at the indicated time points. d, e. Levels of total IgE (d) and HDM-specific IgE (e) 24 h after the last HDM challenge. f, g Lung resistance (f) and elastance (g) in response to inhaled methacholine 24 h after the last HDM challenge. h Eosinophil numbers in BAL fluid 24 h after the last HDM challenge. i Representative periodic acid–Schiff (PAS) staining of lung sections, demonstrating mucus-producing goblet cells (dark purple). j Quantification of mucus-producing goblet cells. Data show median (b, c) or mean ± SEM (d–h, j) from n = 4 (j), 7 (f, g), or 12 (b–e) mice in the PBS groups, and n = 8 (j) or 14 (b–e) mice in the HDM groups pooled from two independent experiments. Each symbol represents individual mice (b–e, h, j). P values were calculated using two-tailed Mann–Whitney U test in b–e, h, and j, or two-way ANOVA followed by a Tukey posttest in f and g. Source data are provided in the Source data file.