Early fungal growth control in pulmonary infection with <i>C. neoformans</i> in the presence of IL-4Rα signaling.

<p>Wild-type (WT, open circle) and IL-4Rα^−/− (gray circle) mice on C57BL/6J background were infected intranasally with <i>C. neoformans</i>. Analysis of fungal burdens in the lung was done at different days <i>post infectionem</i> (dpi) as indicated. Shown is data from n = 7 mice per group from one representative of three independent experiments (14 dpi) or from two independent experiments (7; 21 and 42 dpi). Statistical analysis was done using the unpaired Student's t-test (7 dpi) or Mann-Whitney test. *P<0.05; **P<0.01.</p

In the presence of IL-4Rα elevated pulmonary chemokine expression, IFN-γ mRNA expression and NO production.

<p>Following infection, WT (open circle) and IL-4Rα^−/− (gray circle) mice were sacrificed at the time points indicated (A, C) or at 14 days after infection (B). RT-qPCR analyses were done to determine the expression of mRNAs as indicated. Data are derived from one (A, C, 0 and 7 dpi) or one representative out of two (A, 14 dpi) or three (C, 14 dpi) experiments (n = 6–7 mice per genotype and experiment). Statistical analysis was done using the unpaired Student's t-test (ns, not significant; *P<0.05; **P<0.01; ***P<0.001 (A, C)). The concentration of nitric oxide (NO) in cell culture supernatants was determined using the Griess reaction. Pooled data from two different experiments are shown. Dotted line represents detection limit. Statistical analysis was done using the Mann-Whitney test. **P<0.01 (B).</p

Stronger pulmonary inflammation, eosinophilia, and mucus production in WT as compared with IL-4Rα^−/− mice.

<p>Lung slices from WT and IL-4Rα^−/− mice infected for 14 days were stained with H&E (A-F) and periodic acid Schiff reagent (G, H). Leukocyte infiltration and fungal load are depicted in panels A, C and B, D. Sites of inflammation contain eosinophils (arrowheads) and large, multinucleated macrophages (E) or lymphocytes (F). Mucus production by bronchial epithelial cells is depicted in G and H. One representative experiment out of three with n = 6–7 animals per group is shown.</p