Histological analysis
Lung tissues were analyzed by using paraffin-embedded tissue slices for histology. After staining with Giemsa staining, peribronchial and perivascular inflammation was assessed by a pathologist blinded to the experimental group assignments of the individual lungs. Inflammation was graded by using a semi-quantitative scoring system with a range pending between 1 (mild) and 4 (severe) as described before17.
Bl6/C57 WT, ST2-/- in vitro treatment with Rhinovirus, OVA / Vitamin D3.
We analyzed lung cells from Wild-type and ST2-/- mice at the age of 7-9 weeks. All mice were based on a Bl6/C57 genetic background. Whole lung cells were isolated from the mice on day 0 and partly incubated with Rhinovirus (250µl RV/106 cells) for 1 hour at room temperature on a horizontal shaker. Afterwards OVA (500 mg/ml) and/or Vitamin D3 (10nM) were added to the cells infected with RV as well as to those not infected. Without further stimulation, cells were then cultured for 24h at 37° and 5% CO2.