Fig. 3

Inflammatory responses within the lung after repeat CeO₂NPs and HDM exposure. Mice (n = 5–9 per treatment group) were exposed to CeO₂NPs at either low dose (CeLD) (75 μg/kg) or high dose (CeHD) (750 μg/kg) with and without HDM (1.25 mg/kg), instillation protocols as described in Fig. 1. After treatment, bronchoalveolar cells were analysed for differential immune cell content. Results are expressed as mean ± SEM % total cells counted (300–500 per animal) (a). Lung homogenate was examined for protein levels of the mast cell marker MCPT1 (b) and total blood plasma Immunoglobulin E levels (c) by ELISA. Results were expressed as mean ± SEM fold over control (F.O.C.) levels. Statistical significance between treatments was carried out by one way ANOVA. Comparisons between particle and HDM treatments alone and control levels are represented as (* p < 0.05), while comparisons between particle + HDM combinations and HDM levels are represented as (# p < 0.05)