3.8∣25-μg DNA vaccine patches decreased the expression of Th2 cytokine IL-13 from the For t 2-stimulated splenocytes with both therapeutic and prophylactic approaches
Spleens were harvested from all groups of mice and stimulated with rFor t 2 allergens to determine the cellular immune responses after the epicutaneous DNA vaccine. Significant down-regulations of IL-13 mRNA expression and protein secretion were detected in both SV25-T (Figure 5A) and SV25-P (Figure 5B) groups in comparison with the NV-T and NV-P groups. Interestingly, the Th1 cytokine IFN-γ exhibited an increasing trend in the SV25-T group and decreased in the SV25-P group, though no statistically significant differences in comparison with the NV-T and NV-P groups were detected (right panels of Figure 5A and 5B).