Figure 2

Knockdown of IL-23 expression. Groups of BALB/c mice were sensitized with OVA and treated with the IL-pSRZsi-IL-23p19 before sensitization and challenge, and the transfection efficiency in the lung tissues was examined under a fluorescent microscope (A). (B) The relative levels of IL-23 and IL-17 mRNA transcripts were determined by RT-PCR. Data shown are representative images of each group of mice (n = 10) from three separate experiments. M, DL2000 DNA marker. (C) Quantification of the relative levels of IL-23 and IL-17 mRNA trascripts to control GAPDH. Data are expressed as mean ± SD of individual groups of mice. (D) Charaterization of IL-23 expressing cells in the lung tissues by immunohistochemistry using an anti-IL-23 antibody. Data shown are representative images (×200) of each group. IL-23⁺ cells were indicated by arrows. (E) Quantitative analysis of IL-23 expressing cells in the lung tissues by immunohistochemistry. Data are expressed as mean ± SD of each field in individual groups of mice. Ten fields from 3 sections of individual mice were counted. ^*P<0.01 compared with Alum control; ^#P<0.01 compared with OVA-challenged model group; ^**P<0.01 compared with budesonide pespules-treated positive control.