Lung tissue sections from (a) Group A, (b) Group B, (c) Group C and (d) Group D (control) (magnification: × 200). Immunological analysis for intrapulmonary cytokine protein quantification In Group A mice, IL-17A levels in lung tissues were markedly increased (Figure 2a). Sensitization by lower doses of M. pneumoniae antigens also led to a rise in IL-17A levels in Group B mice. However, no significant changes were SU5402 datasheet found in Group C mice. The levels of intrapulmonary IFN-γ and IL-4 in all mice were undetectable by ELISA (data not shown). Figure 2 Cytokine levels and STA-9090 clinical trial Relative quantification

of cytokine mRNA levels in lung tissues of BALB/c mice. (a) IL-17A levels per gram of lung tissue. (b) IL-10 levels per gram of lung tissue. (c) Relative quantification of IL-17A mRNA levels. (d) Relative quantification of IL-10 mRNA levels. Black bars, Group A mice; Grey bars, Group B mice; hatched bars, Group C mice; white bars, Group D mice. *p < 0.05, inoculate vs. Group D (control) by Dunnett multiple comparison click here statistical test, # p < 0.05 by Student’s t-test. Intrapulmonary IL-10 production was

not detected in control Group D mice, but sensitization with M. pneumoniae antigens induced the production of IL-10 in Groups A, B and C (Figure 2b). Statistically significant increases in IL-17A and IL-10 mRNA expression were shown to depend on frequency of sensitization and concentration of M. pneumoniae antigens used (Figure 2c,d). Relative quantification of tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-α mRNA and Keratinocyte-derived chemokine (KC) mRNA expression as an index of lung inflammation is shown in Figure 3a and b. Up-regulation of TNF-α mRNA and KC mRNA was observed in Groups A, B and C mice as expected according to histopathological findings. Forkhead box p3 (Foxp3) is a master regulator of CD4+CD25+ naturally occurring regulatory T cells (nTreg). Foxp3 mRNA was highly expressed in only Group A mice (Figure 3c).

In contrast, no significant effect of M. pneumoniae antigens on TGF-β1 mRNA expression was observed in the lung (Figure 3d). Figure 3 Relative quantification of cytokine mRNA levels in lung tissues of BALB/c mice. (a) Relative quantification of TNF-α mRNA levels. (b) Relative quantification of KC mRNA levels. Fenbendazole (c) Relative quantification of Foxp3 mRNA levels. (d) Relative quantification of TGF-β1 mRNA levels. Black bars, Group A mice; Grey bars, Group B mice; hatched bars, Group C mice; white bars, Group D mice. *p < 0.05, inoculate vs. Group D (control) by Dunnett multiple comparison statistical test, # p < 0.05 by Student’s t-test. In vitro analysis for specificity of differentiation inducing activity of Th17 cells by M. pneumoniaeantigens Chronological cytokine production by M. pneumoniae antigens was examined. Lymphocytes were cultured with 50 μg protein/ml of M. pneumoniae antigens in the presence of IL-6 and TGF-β1. IL-17A concentration in the culture media was elevated from day 1 to day 4 and maintained at 600–700 pg/ml (Figure 4a).