Fig. 3

HDM-sensitised and HDM-challenged mice showed significant airway inflammatory cell infiltration, increased cytokine production, and increased serum levels for both total IgE and HDM-specific IgE. a Representative H&E images for the lung sections of the saline and HDM groups (scale bar = 50 μm). The black triangle indicates epithelial goblet cell hypertrophy, the black arrow indicates vascular smooth muscle thickening; the red triangle refers to airway smooth muscle thickening, and the red arrows indicate inflammation cell infiltration within the peribronchial, perivascular, and alveolar areas. b ELISA data showing the upregulation of the serum total IgE and anti-HDM specific IgE levels in the HDM group. c RT-qPCR results showing that the transcripts levels for asthma-related cytokines were significantly increased in the HDM group. The mRNA levels were normalised to the housekeeping gene, Rpl13a. Data are represented as mean ± standard error of the mean, n = 4 or 7. ^*P < 0.05, ^**P < 0.01, and ^***P < 0.001 (through Student’s t-test). ELISA enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay, HDM house dust mite, IL interleukin