Figure 1.
Nasal sensitization of mice with ragweed pollen mimics the symptoms of human local allergic rhinitis.
Mice were nasally sensitized with ragweed (RW) pollen. (A) Experimental schema. (B) Numbers of sneezes. (C–F) Mice were nasally administered RW pollen on indicated consecutive days. (C) Serum immunoglobulin levels. Production of cytokines in cLN cells (D) and nasal CD4+ T cells (E). (F) Presence of eosinophils in nasal mucosa. Data representative of three independent experiments (means and SEMs of (B) five mice and (C–F) three mice). *P<0.05, **P<0.01, ***P<0.001. N.D. not detected.
Figure 2.
Local IgE production by nasal ragweed sensitization.
Mice were nasally administered ragweed (RW) pollen on indicated consecutive days. GLTs and PSTs expression in cLN (A) and nasal (B) B cells. (C) qPCR analysis of Aicda expression in cLN and nasal B cells. Data representative of three independent experiments (n = 2). Nasal B cells were pooled from five mice.
Figure 3.
Repeated nasal ragweed sensitization induces systemic atopy.
Nasal, ragweed (RW)-sensitized mice were analyzed 1 day after final sensitization. (A) Experimental schema. (B) Serum immunoglobulin levels. (C) Production of cytokines in cLN cells. (D–F) Histological examinations. (D) Hematoxylin and eosin (HE) staining of coronal section of nasal cavity. (E) HE staining of nasal lateral mucosa; black square in (D). (F) Periodic acid-Schiff staining of nasal septum; red square in (D). (G) Presence of eosinophils in nasal mucosa. Data representative of three independent experiments (means, SEMs, n = 5). *P<0.05, ***P<0.001. N.D. not detected.
Figure 4.
Nasal sensitization of ragweed adversely affects allergic inflammation in lungs.
Nasal, ragweed (RW)-sensitized mice were intratracheally challenged with ragweed 3 days after final sensitization. (A) Experimental schema. (B) BALF CD45+ cells and eosinophils. Hematoxylin and eosin (C) and Periodic acid-Schiff (D) staining of lungs. Data representative of three independent experiments (means and SEMs, n = 4). *P<0.05, **P<0.01.
Figure 5.
IgE-mediated activation of mast cells and basophils induce sneezing.
WT and Fcer1a−/− mice were nasally administered ragweed (RW) pollen or PBS for 3 weeks as in Figure 3A. (A, D, E) or 7 consecutive days (B, C). (A) Number of sneezes. (B, D) Production of cytokines in cLN cells. (C, E) Presence of eosinophils in nasal mucosa. Data representative of two independent experiments (means, SEMs, n = 4). *P<0.05, **P<0.01, ***P<0.001. N.D. not detected. N.S. not significant.
Figure 6.
Nasal presence of group 2 innate lymphoid cells.
(A) IL-5 and IL-13 from nasal CD3− cells in response to IL-2 and IL-33. (B) Analysis and (C) IL-5 and IL-13 production of nasal Lin−ST2+CD90.2+ ILC2s from WT and Rag2−/− mice stimulated with PMA and ionomycin (black), isotype-matched control antibody (gray). Data representative of three independent experiments. N.D. not detected.
Figure 7.
Acquired immunity is central for pathogenesis of nasally sensitized allergic rhinitis.
WT and Rag2−/− mice were nasally administered ragweed (RW) pollen or PBS as in Figure 3A. (A, C) or for 7 consecutive days (B). (A) Number of sneezes. (B, C) Presence of eosinophils in nasal mucosa. Data representative of three independent experiments (means, SEMs n = 4). **P<0.01, ***P<0.001 (in (A), comparing WT to Rag2−/− mice). †P<0.05, ††P<0.01, †††P<0.001 (in (A), comparing to day 0 in Rag2−/− mice).