Fig. 2: Myeloid-specific CUL5 deficiency alleviates asthma exacerbations.

a Mice were challenged with indicated amounts of methacholine chloride dissolved in PBS. Respiratory system resistance (Resistance) and compliance, airway resistance, and lung tissue damping and elasticity were detected by flexiVent (SCIREQ). n = 5 mice per group. p-values shown as Cul5^fl/fl treated by HDM + PR8 compared with LysM^Cre Cul5^fl/fl treated by HDM + PR8 group mice. b Periodic acid-Schiff (PAS), hematoxylin and eosin (H&E), and Masson’s trichome staining of lung tissues of the indicated mice. Red arrowheads indicate goblet cells containing mucus (magenta) after PAS staining, inflammatory infiltration after H&E staining, and collagenous fibers after Masson’s trichome staining. Scale bars, 2 mm and 50 μm. AW, airway. c Total cell counts were determined in the BALF of the indicated mice. d Relative influenza virus content in the lung tissues of the indicated groups was quantified based on M protein levels measured by RT-qPCR and shown as ΔCt fold change. e ELISA was performed to detect IgE serum concentration in the indicated mice. f Neutrophil (Neu, Ly6G⁺), eosinophil (Eos, CD11c^- SiglecF⁺), and alveolar macrophage (AM, CD11c⁺ SiglecF⁺) in BALF were analyzed by flow cytometry. g–h Percentages and counts of Neu, Eos, and AM in BALF were determined. i Heatmap summarizing the mRNA expression of Tgfb, Tnfa, Cxcl15, Elane, Mmp9, Il4, Il5, Il13 Il17, Ifng, Il1b, Il6, and Tslp in the lung tissues of the indicated mice. * Represents p < 0.05 in the HDM + PR8-treated LysM^Cre Cul5^fl/fl group vs the HDM + PR8 Cul5^fl/fl group. Data are representative of three independent experiments (mean ± s.e.m.), n  =  5, 5, 6, and 7 in the PBS-administered Cul5^fl/fl, PBS-administered LysM^Cre Cul5^fl/fl, HDM + PR8-administered Cul5^fl/fl, HDM + PR8-administered LysM^Cre Cul5^fl/fl groups, respectively. p-values in (d) were calculated by unpaired two-tailed t-test. p-values in (a), (c), (e), and (g)-(i) were calculated by two-way ANOVA (Tukey’s test). Source data are provided as a Source Data file.