Fig. 2

Diesel exhaust particles worsen severity of EAE in vivo. Age matched female WT (C57BL/6 J) were exposed intranasal to 12.5 mg/mL PM of SRM1650b PM, SRM2975 PM, or solvent control all diluted in PBS. The mice were dosed intranasal 8 times starting at day − 12 every 3 days until day 9 after induction. Mice were scored daily for severity of disease. a, b SRM1650b and SRM2975 PM worsen severity of EAE. c, d SRM1650b and SRM2975 PM significantly increased peak score. e, f Both DEPs significantly increased cumulative clinical score over the 28-day period. g, h Neither DEP influenced day of disease onset which represents the first day of a clinical score greater than 0. Results are mean ± SEM of (PBS n = 12) (SRM1650b PM n = 13) and (SRM2975 PM n = 13). Significant differences among groups (p < 0.05) are indicated by an asterisk. Abbreviations: SRM, standard reference materials; PM, particulate matter; PBS, phosphate buffered saline; EAE, experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis; DEP, diesel exhaust particles