Fig. 1
Protocol of oral immunotherapy with HDM extracts ingestion in a murine model of allergic asthma. Mice were divided into 3 groups. These mice received sensitization twice by intraperitoneal (i.p.) injection of HDM extracts and Al(OH)3 on day 1 and day 8 (Groups B and C). Then, the mice received allergen challenge to induce allergic airway inflammation by intratracheal (i.t.) instillation of HDM extracts on days 29–31 (Groups B and C). The mice of Group C received oral immunotherapy with HDM extracts ingestion before the allergen challenge. Group A: the normal control (NC) group composed of unsensitized mice fed formula; Group B: the positive control (PC) group composed of HDM-sensitized mice, which served as the inflammation control; Group C: the treatment (HDM) group, composed of HDM-sensitized mice treated with oral immunotherapy, which served as the intervention group