Fig. 2

Treatment with ASC sup decreased inflammatory cell infiltration and mucus production. a Tissue inflammation observed in stained lung sections (a, e: PBS-treated mice [PBS]; b, f: OVA-Alum-induced airway inflammation mice [OVA]; c, g: OVA-Alum-induced airway inflammation mice with con sup treatment [con sup + OVA]; d, h: OVA-Alum-induced airway inflammation mice with ASC sup treatment [ASC sup + OVA]; a-d: H&E-stained; e-h: PAS-stained (bar = 100 μm). b Portions of hematoxylin-and eosin-stained inflated lung sections were blindly examined under light microscopy to assess the inflammation score of each section. We determined the inflammation score, which is the product of the severity and prevalence of inflammation, performed by as previous desribed [17]. Severity was assigned a numerical value based on the thickness of the inflammatory cell infiltrates surrounding the airways and blood vessels in the lung (0 = no cells; 1 = 1 − 3 cells thick; 2 = 4 − 6 cells thick; 3 = 7 − 9 cells thick; 4 = greater than or equal to 10 cells thick). Prevalence was assigned a numerical value, according to the percentage of airways and blood vessels in each section encompassed by inflammatory cells (0 = no airways or blood vessels; 1 = <25%; 2 = 25 − 50%; 3 = 51 − 75%; 4 = >75%). c The percentage of PAS-positive cells in epithelial areas was examined from eight to ten tissue sections per mouse. Each value is expressed as the mean ± SD. (^** p < 0.01, ^*** p < 0.001, n = 5 mice per group, experiments were performed in triplicate)