IL-17C contributes to NTHi-induced inflammation and lung damage in experimental COPD and is present in sputum during acute exacerbations
Fig 2
Reduced lung damage in mice deficient for IL-17C.
WT and Il-17c-/- mice were exposed to heat-inactivated NTHi three times a week (day 1, 3, 5) for 4 weeks. Mice were analyzed 24 hours after the final exposure to NTHi. Representative IHC of Ly6B (A) and CD3 (B) and quantification of the Ly6B+ and CD3+ cells in lung parenchyma (n = 6 mice per group, 6–8 fields per mouse, Scale bar: 50 μm). Representative lung histology (C, hematoxylin and eosin staining) and inflammatory score (D) (n = 9–10 per group, 2–3 lung sections per mouse, scale bar: 100 μm). Data were compared by unpaired Student’s t-test and are shown as the mean ± SD. *p < 0.05 and **p < 0.01. (E) The mean chord length (MCL, 27–50 fields per mouse, n = 9–10 per group) was determined by morphometric methods. Data were compared by One-way ANOVA with Bonferroni post-test and are shown as the mean ± SD. *p < 0.05 and ***p < 0.001.