Blockade of NLRP3/Caspase-1/IL-1β Regulated Th17/Treg Immune Imbalance and Attenuated the Neutrophilic Airway Inflammation in an Ovalbumin-Induced Murine Model of Asthma

Figure 2

Blockade of the NLRP3/caspase-1/IL-1β pathway ameliorated airway hyperresponsiveness, airway inflammation induced by ovalbumin. (a) Representative H&E-stained and PAS-stained lung sections of different groups. Original magnification was 200x. (b) Semiquantification of airway inflammation and PAS staining was performed. (c) Resistance index (RI) to double multiplication concentration of methacholine (3.125, 6.25, 12.5, 25, and 50 mg/ml) was measured. (d) Number of total inflammatory cells, neutrophils, macrophages, lymphocytes, and eosinophils in BALF. (e) MPO activity in BALF and lung tissue. There were six mice in each group. Data are expressed as . Compared to the control group, , , and ; compared to the neutrophilic asthma group, ^#, ^##, and ^###. NLRP3: nucleotide-binding oligomerization domain-like receptor family pyrin domain containing 3; MPO: myeloperoxidase; BALF: bronchoalveolar lavage fluid.

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