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. 2022 Aug 25;2022:3096528. doi: 10.1155/2022/3096528

Figure 2.

Figure 2

Establishment of severe asthma model, and the effect and concentration of DHT, E2, and DHT/E2 in the model. Mice were divided into normal control, asthma, severe asthma, severe asthma+ DHT, severe asthma+ E2, and severe asthma+ DHT/E2 groups. After sensitization, atomization, and excitation according to the protocol and subcutaneous injection of DHT, E2, and DHT/E2 in allocated groups, mice were sacrificed for various studies, and finally lung, and spleen harvested and serum, BALF (broncho-alveolar lavage fluid) collected. (a) Lung tissue sections were stained with hematoxylin and eosin stain (H&E), immunohistochemistry eosinophil antibody (anti-ECP), and neutrophil-specific antibody (anti-Gr-1). As estrogen is involved in the differentiation of Th17 cells and its cytokines in neutrophilic severe asthma, histological lung analysis of severe asthma+E2 group and severe asthma group showed noticeably enhanced peri-bronchial inflammation with infiltration of neutrophils (NEU), whereas severe asthma+ DHT group showed the opposite results. (b) Lung relative expression of eosinophils (EOS) and NEU protein in different groups. (c) BALF total cells, NEU, and EOS in all groups. (d) Pulmonary resistance (RL) in normal control, asthma, and severe asthma group of mice. The severe asthma group showed higher RL than the other two groups. (e) Comparison of RL in all groups including the effect of DHT, E2, and DHT/E2. The severe asthma + DHT group showed a reduced level of RL than all the groups except the normal control. (f) The concentration of DHT and E2 in normal control, asthma, and severe asthma group of mice was measured by ELISA in serum samples. Severe asthma was associated with reduced DHT and higher E2 levels showing possible involvement of estrogen in severe asthma mechanism, while the DHT as a potential therapeutic agent reversed (reduced) the effect of severe asthma. (d) #Comparison with normal control and ∗ comparison with asthma. (e) ∗ Comparison with severe asthma+ DHT and normal control group. Scale bar, 20 μm. (∗p < 0.05, ∗∗p < 0.01, #p < 0.05; ns: not significant).