Fig. 2
The alteration of allergic inflammation and transcription of Th2 cytokines in nasal mucosa of OVA-driven AR mouse in response toS. epidermidis. Human nasal S. epidermidis (3.2 × 106 CFU/30 µl PBS) was inoculated at indicated time points to the nose of OVA-sensitized BALB/C mice. Frequencies of sneezing (A) and rubbing (B) events were assessed over a 15 min period after OVA provocation. Histologic findings in nasal mucosa of each group (×400 magnification) with Sirius red staining for eosinophils (C) and Periodic Acid-Schiff (PAS) staining for secretory cells (D). Serum levels of total IgE (E) and OVA-specific IgE (F) were significantly lower in the nasal mucosa of AR-OVA with inoculation of S. epidermidis than in AR-OVA mice (N = 5). The mRNA expressions of IL-4 (G), IL-5 (H), IL-13 (I) were determined using real-time PCR. Results are presented as mean ± standard deviation (SD) (N = 5). *p < 0.05