Dectin-1 regulates both resistance and inflammation to Aspergillus. Dectin-1-deficient mice on both BALB/c and C57BL/6 backgrounds were given a suspension of 2 × 107 conidia/20 μL saline intratracheally. (A) Fungal growth (CFU ± SE), (B) lung histology (PAS staining) and BAL morphometry, and (C) cytokine gene expression in the lungs by real-time RT-PCR were assessed 3 days after the infection. For histology, paraffin-embedded tissues (3-4 μm) of lung were stained and mounted with Eukitt mounting medium (Sigma-Aldrich). Histology sections were observed with 40×/0.65 objective lens using an Olympus BX51 microscope (Olympus). BAL cystospins were performed as described in “Methods.” Cytospin preparations were observed with a 100×/1.25 NA oil objective lens using a Olympus BX51 microscope (Olympus). All images were captured using a high-resolution Olympus DP71 camera (Olympus) and digitally acquired using Cell⋀P software (Version 3.3 build 2108, Olympus). Subsequent image editing was performed using Adobe Photoshop CS3 (Version 10.0, Adobe Systems Incorporated). Note the sustained parenchymal damage (PAS staining) and inflammatory cell recruitment in BAL (May-Grünwald-Giemsa staining in the inset) in BALB/c Dectin-1 KO more than C57BL/6 Dectin-1 KO, mice. Bars represent magnifications. The numbers refer to percentage polymorphonuclear (PMN) or mononuclear (MNC) cells on BAL. Data are pooled from 4 experiments or representative of 2 experiments (for histology).
