Figure 1

Lung exposure to either allergen or VEGF induces asthma-like inflammatory responses. (A-B) WT mice were exposed to OVA as described in the Methods section. Significant influx of eosinophils, lymphocytes, and neutrophils into BAL of allergen-treated WT mice was found compared to PBS-treated counterparts (*p < 0.025, 0.045, and 0.03, correspondingly) (A). Lung tissue inflammatory response observed on histology slides corresponds that in BAL (magnification x20, for insert 100x) (B). (C-D) Lung VEGF expression induces local inflammation and upregulation of selected neuroimmune semaphorin and receptor molecules in sorted lung conventional DC. H&E staining of lungs from WT and VEGF tg mice given DOX water for 7 days (magnification 40x) (C). Sorted mouse lung cDC were subjected to tRNA extraction followed by cDNA preparation and PCR with gene-specific primers. Note a strong upregulation of Sema4D and CD72 in lung cDC by VEGF (D).