Effect of SCIT
Compared with the vehicle group, SCIT with HSE in the treatment group led to significant reduction of Penh values at 12.5, 25 and 50 mg/mL of Mch inhalation (Fig. 5A, P<0.05 or P<0.01).It also reduced the infiltration of white blood cells (Fig. 5B1, P<0.01), eosinophils (Fig. 5B1, P<0.01), and lymphocytes (Fig. 5B1, P<0.05), as well as the percentage of eosinophils (Fig. 5B2, P<0.05) in BALF; inhibited HSE-specific IgE production (Fig. 5C1, P<0.01) and enhanced HSE-specific IgG2a production (Fig. 5C2, P<0.01); reduced IL-4 levels in BALF (Fig. 5D1, P<0.05) and SHS (Fig. 5D1, P<0.05); enhanced IFN- γ levels in BALF (Fig. 5D3, P<0.01) and SHS (Fig. 5D3, P<0.05), and reduced inflammatory infiltrates around the bronchi and diminished mucus production(Fig. 6C, P<0.01). Moreover, SCIT significantly reduced IL-13 levels in BALF (Fig. 5D2, P<0.01) and IL-10 levels in SHS (Fig. 5D4, P<0.01). Notably, SCIT did not significantly reduce allergen-induced neutrophil accumulation in BALF (Fig. 5B1).