Fig. 4
Experimental protocol and comparison of nasal symptoms, serum immunoglobulin E (IgE) levels, and eosinophilic infiltration levels. a The experimental protocol for development of allergic asthmatic mouse using BALB/C. Mice were sensitized by intraperitoneal injection of ovalbumin mixed with aluminum hydroxide on days 0, 7, and 14. Daily OVA intranasal challenge was performed from days 22 to 28 (OVA/OVA). Human nasal S. aureus (AR-SA) (3.2 × 106 CFU/30 μl. PBS) was inoculated at indicated time points (day 19, 20). b mRNA levels of femA gene, specific for S. aureus and normalized to cellular GAPDH transcript levels, were monitored by real-time PCR. c Colony counts of nasal lavage fluid were performed. Frequencies of sneezing (d) and rubbing (e) events were assessed over a 15 min period after OVA provocation. Serum levels of total IgE (f) and OVA-specific IgE (g) were significantly lower in SA-OVA mice than in WT-OVA mice (N = 5). Histologic findings in nasal mucosa of each group (× 400 magnification) with Sirius red staining for eosinophils (h) and periodic acid-Schiff (PAS) staining for secretory cells (i). Results are presented as mean ± standard deviation (SD) (N = 5) and histologic finding is representative of nose sections from five mice. *p < 0.05