Fig. 2.

p38α deletion in DCs promotes Th2 priming and allergic inflammation during the sensitization phase. a–c WT and p38α^ΔDC mice were sensitized with HDM on Days 0–2 and challenged with HDM on Days 14–16. Mice were sacrificed for analysis on Day 17. ELISA analysis of IL-4, IL-5, IL-13, IL-17 and IFNγ production in the BALF (a) (n = 3–4). The percentages of IL-4⁺, IL-5⁺, IL-13⁺, IL-17⁺ and IFNγ⁺ cells in CD4⁺ T cells were determined by intracellular staining (b, c) (n = 13). Percentages of GATA3⁺ cells in CD4⁺ T cells (d) (n = 5). e–h WT and p38α^ΔDC mice were sensitized with HDM for 3 days and analyzed 7 days later. Total cell number in the BALF (e) (n ≥ 14). The percentage and cell number of eosinophils were detected by flow cytometry (f) (n ≥ 14). The percentages of IL-4⁺, IL-5⁺, IL-13⁺, IL-17⁺ and IFNγ⁺ cells in CD4⁺ T cells were determined by intracellular staining (g) (n ≥ 19). ELISA analysis of ex vivo-isolated mLN cells restimulated with or without HDM for 72 h (h) (n = 3–4). *P < 0.05; **P < 0.01; ns, not significant. Data are representative of three (a, d, h) independent experiments or pooled from three (b–c, e and f) or four (g) experiments with consistent results. Student’s t test (c–g) or two-way ANOVA (a and h) was performed, and the data are presented as the mean ± SEM