Figure 1

Cigarette smoke and allergen exposure protocols. Allergen exposure protocols (Allergen Protocols): Allergen Protocol 1A: Exposure of sensitized C57BL/6 mice to PBS or OVA aerosols for 2 weeks. (n = 8 mice/group). Allergen Protocol 1B: Prolonged PBS or OVA aerosol exposure in sensitized mice (8 weeks). (n = 8 mice/group). Allergen Protocol 2: OVA sensitized mice were exposed to OVA for 8 weeks ("chronic"), followed by HEL/alum immunisation and short-term ("acute") HEL aerosol challenge (OVA/HEL group). Control mice were exposed to PBS for 8 weeks, immunized with HEL/alum and challenged with either PBS (PBS/PBS group) or with HEL (PBS/HEL group). (n = 8–12 mice/group). Smoke exposure protocol (Smoke Protocol): C57BL/6 mice are exposed to Smoke or Air for 8 weeks. (n = 6 mice/group). Combined protocols (Combination Protocols):Combination Protocol 1: similar to Allergen Protocol 1B, combined with Smoke exposures or Air. (n = 8 mice/group). Combination Protocol 2: similar to Allergen Protocol 2, combined with or without Smoke. (n = 8 mice/group). Combination Protocol 3A: similar to Allergen Protocol 1A, combined with Smoke exposures or Air. (n = 8 mice/group). Combination Protocol 3B: 4 weeks of OVA aerosol or PBS exposures in sensitized mice, combined with Smoke exposures or Air. (n = 8 mice/group). Vertical arrows = aerosol challenges (OVA, HEL or PBS). Stripped horizontal bars = period of Smoke or Air exposures.