Fig. 5

TLR4 deficiency mildly increases airway eosinophil numbers in OVA, but not HDM, models. (a–d) C57BL/6 and TLR4-KO mice were immunized and challenged with OVA or HDM as in Fig. 1; PBS refers to C57BL/6 mice that were mock-immunized and challenged with OVA or HDM. Total cell counts, percent and number of eosinophils were evaluated by flow cytometry; bar graphs show mean + SEM/mouse from two combined experiments each using 5–8 mice per group. Histopathological scores were calculated on 6–10 mice per condition, which were selected from both experiments. Peribronchiolar and perivascular inflammation scores are displayed as median +/− interquartile range; the percent PAS-positive staining in bronchiolar epithelial cells is shown as mean + SEM. P values refer to the comparison between the sensitised and challenged C57BL/6 and TLR4-KO groups. ***, p < 0.001; **, p < 0.01; *, p < 0.05; ns, not significant