Fig. 6

In vivo mice study for oro-nasal administration of rMuIFNλ3. Schematic of in vivo mice study for oro-nasal administration of rMuIFNλ3 in different forms (a). Gene expression profile in lung tissue of mice showing differential expression of MX-1 (upregulated), IRF-7 (upregulated), ISG-15 (upregulated), and IL-6 (upregulated). Bar indicates the fold changes of genes with respect to control groups of mice (received PBS only). Asterisk (*) indicates the statistically significant difference, and “ns” indicates a non-significant difference (b). Representative images of Hematoxylin and Eosin (H & E) stained lung tissue sections from experimental mice. The images of the lung tissues of the WT L. lactis group specify the alveolar and bronchiolar epithelial hyperplasia (blue and red arrow). Thickening of the alveolar septa and the accumulation of the oedematic fluid in the alveolar space with mononuclear cell infiltration seen as pink-colored space with cells (red arrow) was observed in the case of rL. lactis. The tissues from the rMuIFNλ3 group had necrotic and degenerative changes (red arrow) in the terminal bronchial. All stained tissue sections were digitally scanned under a ×20 objective lens (Leica DM 2000 LAe). Scale bars: 100 μm (c)