Lung levels of phosphorylated ERK1/2, p38 MAPK and JNK 1/2/3.

<p>C57/Bl6 and IL-17R^−/− mice were exposed to air or to ozone. Data shown as mean ± SEM for n = 5 in each group; *p<0.05 compared to air in the same species; ^#p<0.05 compared to C57/Bl6 mice with corresponding exposure. RFU: Relative fluorescence unit.</p

Effect of dexamethasone (10⁻⁶ M) on acetylcholine (ACh)-induced bronchial contractile responses.

<p>Air-exposed C57/BL6 mice (n = 6; Panel A) and IL-17R^−/− mice (n = 6; Panel B) and ozone-exposed C57/BL6 mice (n = 9; Panel C) and IL-17R^−/− mice (n = 6; Panel D) were studied. Under each condition, the effect of dexamethasone has been compared to responses in the absence of this inhibitor. Data presented as mean±SEM. *p<0.05 compared with dexamethasone-treated tissues.</p

Acetylcholine (ACh)-induced isometric bronchial contractile tension.

<p>Air- and ozone-exposed C57/BL6 mice (6 in air- and 9 in ozone-exposed) and IL17RA^−/− mice (6 in air- and 5 in ozone-exposed) were studied. Data expressed as mean ±S.E.M. *p<0.05, **p<0.01, ***p<0.001, compared with air-exposed mice.</p

Mean linear intercept (L_m) in the lungs of air- and ozone exposed mice (Panel A).

<p>Lungs inflated at 25 cm of water were sectioned and stained with haematoxylin and eosin and microscopically assessed for L_m. Ozone exposed C57/BL6 mice and IL-17R^−/− mice showed increased Lm (alveolar enlargement) compared with their appropriate air-exposed control mice. Emphysema score in the lungs of air- and ozone exposed mice (Panel B). Compared with air exposed mice, the emphysema score was increased in ozone-exposed C57/BL6 and IL-17R^−/−mice, while it was increased further in ozoneexposed IL-17R^−/− mice. Data are expressed as means ± SEM. *p<0.05; <b>*</b>*p<0.01; ***p<0.001. Representative histological sections of mouse lungs (Panel C i, ii, iii & iv). Lung sections were stained with haematoxylin and eosin after 6 weeks of exposure to ozone showing enlargement of alveolar spaces in C57/BL6 (Panel C ii) and IL-17A^−/− mice (Panel C iv).</p

Levels of lung IL-17, IL-1β and TNFα.

<p>C57/Bl6 and IL-17R^−/− mice were exposed to air or to ozone. Data shown as mean ± SEM for n = 5 in each group; *p<0.05 compared to air in the same species; ^#p<0.05 compared to C57/Bl6 mice with corresponding exposure.</p

Inflammation score in the airways and lungs of air- and ozone-exposed mice.

<p>Compared with air exposed control mice, the inflammation score was increased significantly in ozone exposed C57/BL6 mice but not in IL-17R^−/−mice. Data are expressed as means ± SEM. *p<0.01.</p

Effect of SB239063 (10⁻⁶ M) on acetylcholine (ACh)-induced bronchial contractile responses.

<p>Air-exposed C57/BL6 mice (n = 6; Panel A) and IL-17R^−/− mice (n = 6; Panel B) and ozone-exposed C57/BL6 mice (n = 9; Panel C) and IL-17R^−/− mice (n = 6; Panel D) were studied. Under each condition, the effect of SB239063 has been compared to responses in the absence of this inhibitor. Data presented as mean±SEM. *p<0.05; **p<0.01 compared with SB239063-treated tissues.</p

Concentration-response curves to acetylcholine (ACh) and –log provocative concentration of ACh required to increase lung resistance (R_L) by 100% from baseline (PC₁₀₀).

<p>C57/BL6 and IL-17R^−/− mice were exposed to air or to ozone. Data is expressed as mean ± S.E.M. **p<0.01; ***p<0.001, compared with to air-exposed mice.</p

Bronchoalveolar lavage cells from rats at 1, 7 and 21 days after intratracheal instillation of silver nanoparticles (0.1 mg/kg).

<p>The effects of 20nm and 110 nm silver nanospheres capped with citrate (20cit, 110cit) or polyvinlypyrrolidone (20pvp, 110pvp) in Brown Norway rats (Panels A, B, C, D & E) and of 20 nm silver nanoparticles capped with citrate or pvp in Sprague Dawley rats (Panels F, G, H, I & J) are shown. Data expressed as mean ± SD, n = 5–6 for each group. *P<0.05, **P<0.001, ***P<0.0001 versus the water control (C) within each time-point; +P<0.05.</p

Representative haematoxylin- and carbo-chromotrope-stained lung sections from Brown-Norway (BN) rat lungs exposed to water only (Control) or to 20nm and 110 nm citrate- or pvp-capped silver nanoparticles (Panels A-E), and from Sprague-Dawley (SD) rats exposed to water only (Control) or to silver 20nm citrate- or pvp-capped nanoparticles (Panels F-H) at 24 hours after instillation.

<p>Compared to controls, inflammatory responses with neutrophils (arrow heads) are seen in both BN and SD rats after nanoparticle instillation. BN rats show the a predominance of eosinophils, while in SD rats, the inflammation is predominantly neutrophilic (Scale bar on Panel G is 10 μm, as used throughout). Panel I shows the distribution of inflammatory scores in these experiments with median bars shown for each experimental group. C is control rats instilled with water alone. *p<0.05; **p<0.01; ***p<0.001 compared to C; #p<0.05 compared to appropriate Brown-Norway group.</p