Increased and prolonged ear swelling in DTH reactions elicited in TSP-2–deficient mice.

DTH reactions were induced in the ear skin of TSP-2–deficient and wild-type mice using oxazolone. Ear swelling is expressed as the increase (Δ) over the original ear thickness in micrometers. TSP-2–deficient mice ● showed a significantly increased ear swelling (99.6%; P < .01) 24 hours after challenge, as compared with wild-type mice ▪. Moreover, the ear swelling in TSP-2–deficient mice persisted for more than 2 weeks, whereas ear thickness returned to normal levels after about 1 week in wild-type mice. Unchallenged mice: ○, TSP2^−/−; ■, wild type. Data are expressed as mean ± SD. *P < .05; **P < .01.