Adoptive transfer of LPS-treated BMDCs decreased the
phosphorylation level of STAT6 in OVA-induced asthmatic mice
Having shown that DClps treatment might be associated with the
alleviation of airway inflammation in treated mice, we explored the
potential mechanisms for this phenomenon. The STAT1 and STAT4 pathways
are considered vital for Th1 differentiation, while the
IL-4/IL-13/STAT-6 pathway has been confirmed to be the major modulator
of Th2 differentiation in asthma pathophysiology25,
26. To verify whether DClps modulate the airway inflammation of
asthmatic mice by affecting the STATs pathways, we measured the total
protein level and phosphorylation levels of STAT1, STAT4, and STAT6 in
lung homogenates by WB analysis. We found that in asthmatic mice treated
with DClps and DC10, the phosphorylation level of STAT6 protein was
remarkably decreased, whereas the phosphorylation level of STAT1 and
STAT4 protein merely showed a moderate downward trend that was not
statistically significant. We also noted that there were no recognizable
changes observed in DCia-treated mice. On the basis of the above
findings, we concluded that STAT6 signaling may be involved in the
regulation of airway inflammation in asthmatic mice treated with DClps
(Fig. 8).