Fig 2: The effects of UA on Th17 cell differentiation and the STAT3/RORγt pathway. The naïve CD4+ T cells were induced for Th17 differentiation and treated with UA at different concentrations (1 μM or 4 μM). (A) The proportion of Th17 cells was evaluated by flow cytometry assay. (B) The proportion of Treg cells was evaluated with flow cytometry assay. (C) The mRNA expression of RORγt was quantified with qRT-PCR. (D) The concentration of IL-17A in the cell supernatant was detected by ELISA assay. (E) The protein levels of p-STAT3 and RORγt were analyzed with Western blot. *P < 0.05, **P < 0.01.

Fig 3: Enhanced intradermal IL-6 alleviates psoriasiform skin inflammation.a–c Zc3h12c, Tnf, and Il6 expression in imiquimod (IMQ)-treated skin of WT mice at indicated days was measured by qPCR (a: n = 4 mice for day 0 and 3, n = 3 mice for day 1 and 6; b: n = 4 mice for day 0, n = 3 mice for day 1, 3, and 6; c: n = 3 mice for day 0, 1, and 3, n = 4 mice for day 6). d TNF secretion by IMQ-treated skin of Zc3h12c+/+(blue)/Zc3h12c-/- (red)mice at day 2 was measured by ELISA after normalizing with weight (n = 5 mice per group). e Il12p40 expression of IMQ-treated skin of Zc3h12c+/+/Zc3h12c-/- mice at day 3 was measured by qPCR (n = 4 mice per group). f IL-6 secretion by IMQ-treated skin of Zc3h12c+/+/Zc3h12c-/- mice at day 3 was measured by ELISA after normalizing with weight (n = 3 mice per group). g, h TNF production by infiltrated myeloid cells from Zc3h12c+/+/Zc3h12c--/- IMQ-treated skin on day 3 was measured by intracellular staining after R848 activation (g: n = 8 mice for Zc3h12c+/+; n = 9 mice for Zc3h12c-/-; h: n = 5 mice per group). i TNF production by infiltrated macrophages (CD45+ CD11b+ F4/80+ CD64+) from Zc3h12cfl/fl/Zc3h12cMF? IMQ-treated skin on day 4 was measured by intracellular staining after R848 activation (n = 9 mice per group). j TNF production by infiltrated macrophages (CD45+ CD11c- CD11b+ F4/80+ CD64+) from Zc3h12cfl/fl/ Zc3h12cDC? IMQ-treated skin on day 4 was measured by intracellular staining after R848 activation (n = 4 mice per group). k Psoriasis severity of IMQ-treated WT mice with rIL-6 injections were scored by mPASI daily (n = 5 mice per group). l TNF secretion by IMQ + rIL-6-treated skin at day 3 was measured by ELISA after normalizing with weight (n = 5 mice per group). m Il17a expression in IMQ + rIL-6 treated skin of WT mice at indicated days was measured by qPCR (n = 5 mice per group). n IL-6 secretion by treated skin was measured by ELISA after normalizing with weight (n = 4 mice per group). o Zc3h12c expression in UV-treated skin at 24 h was measured by qPCR (n = 5 mice per group). p Zc3h12c expression in IMQ + rIL-6-treated skin at day 4 was measured by qPCR (n = 5 mice per group). Data are representative of at least three independent experiments (mean ± S.D.; two-tailed Student’s t test). Source data are provided as a Source Data file.

Fig 4: Long-term immunity against Staphylococcus aureus was induced by immunization through the intrapulmonary route. A, At 180 days after the last immunization, clumping factor A (ClfA)–specific immunoglobulin G (left) and immunoglobulin A (right) in serum samples were determined by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (n = 6–10). B, ClfA-specific long-lived plasma cells in the bone marrow were determined by enzyme-linked immunospot assay (ELISpot) (n = 5–10). C, ClfA-specific IL-17a–secreting cells in the lungs (left) and spleens (right) were measured by ELISpot (n = 5–10). D, Colony-forming units in the lungs were determined 24 hours after challenge (n = 4–8). Data are presented as mean ± standard error of the mean of 2 or 3 independent experiments. *P < .05, **P < .01, ***P < .001, ****P < .0001, n.s., not significant; 2-way analysis of variance with Tukey posttest. Abbreviations: CFU, colony-forming unit; ClfA, clumping factor A; CTB, cholera toxin B subunit; IgA, immunoglobulin A; IgG, immunoglobulin G; i.n. intranasal; i.pulmon., intrapulmonary; N.D., not detected.

Fig 5: Sections of the colon of adult male mice. (A–C) Mallory’s trichrome-stained sections (200x); collagen fibers (arrows). (A) Control group showing few collagen fibers, (B) DSS group showing numerous collagen fibers, (C) DSS+ AuNPs group showing some collagen fibers. (D–F) Alcian blue-stained sections (200x); goblet cells (g). (D) Control group with abundant goblet cells, (E) DSS group with few goblet cells, (F) DSS+ AuNPs group with many goblet cells. (G–I) Immune histochemical-stained sections for IL-17A (400x); brown positive cytoplasmic reactions (arrows). (G) Control group showing reactions in few cells, (H) DSS group showing reactions in many cells, (I): DSS+ AuNPs group showing reactions in some cells.