Treg depletion allows high dose CP infection induced antigen sensitization.

FoxP3-DTR tg mice received either CP+diphtheria toxin (DT) (n = 9), CP+PBS (n = 9), PBS+DT (n = 7), or PBS+PBS (n = 7), and were sensitized and challenged with HSA as described in Figure 1E. A: Representative flow cytometric analysis of Treg depletion the day after DT injection. B: Representative staining of lung eosinophils in CP infected and DT treated mice. C: Representative staining of lung goblet cells in CP infected and DT treated mice. D: Total numbers of eosinophils were related to the total area of the section. E: Total numbers of goblet cells were related to the total length of bronchial basal membrane in the section. F: Mediastinal lymph node cells were restimulated with HSA after sensitization. Supernatants were measured for IL-5 by ELISA. G: HSA-specific IgE, IgG1, and IgG2a titers. *p≤0.05, **p≤0.01, ***p≤0.001.