Figure 5

Ovalbumin-specific IgE levels in serum and different production of cytokines by TLN cells after OVA restimulation in vitro in SAL/WT mice (white bars), SAL/eNOS mice (hatched bars), OVA/WT mice (black bars) and OVA/eNOS mice (grey bars). A) IgE levels in serum 24 hours after challenge. An increase in IgE was observed after OVA challenge. No difference between eNOS and the respective WT mice was detected. B) IFN-γ production by TLN. No IFN-γ was produced by TLN cells obtained from SAL/WT and SAL/eNOS mice. IFN-γ production was markedly increased in OVA/WT mice, but only slightly in OVA/eNOS mice. C) IL-5 production by TLN cells. Low levels of IL-5 were found in SAL/WT mice, whereas no IL-5 production was found in SAL/eNOS mice. IL-5 levels were markedly increased in OVA/WT mice compared to SAL/WT mice. IL-5 production was decreased by 44% in OVA/eNOS mice compared to OVA/WT mice (p < 0.01). D) IL-10 production by TLN cells. Low levels of IL-10 were found in SAL/WT mice, whereas no IL-10 production was found in SAL/eNOS mice. IL-10 levels were increased in OVA/WT mice compared to SAL/WT mice. IL-10 production was decreased by 51% in OVA/eNOS mice compared to OVA/WT mice (p < 0.01). Data are presented as mean ± SEM, n = 6. * p < 0.05, ** p < 0.01, *** p < 0.001, ^$$$ p < 0.001 compared to SAL/WT mice, ^## p < 0.01 compared to OVA/WT mice.