Figure 2
Imiquimod reduces airway inflammation and neutrophil infiltration in mice infected with IAV. Naïve mice (vehicle; PBS) or mice infected with Hk x-31 at (A) 105 PFU/mouse and treated once daily with either imiquimod (50 µg) or vehicle (PBS: DMSO; 1%) via intranasal inhalation, starting 1 day prior to infection up until day 2 with analysis occurring at day 3. Alternatively, in (B), mice were treated once daily with aldara (25 mg) or control on the back of the ear via epicutaneous application and infected with 104 PFU/mouse of Hk x-31 or control (PBS), where end point measurements were taken at day 3 post-infection. The total number of live cells and differential cell counts of macrophages, neutrophils, lymphocytes and eosinophils were measured. ~500 cells were counted from random fields by standard morphological criteria. Data are represented as mean ± SEM of n = 8–15 mice. Data are expressed as number of live inflammatory cells present in the BALF, with statistical analysis conducted via a one-way ANOVA followed by Tukey’s post hoc test for multiple comparisons. * and ** indicates p < 0.05, p < 0.01 and p < 0.0001, respectively.
