Fig. 6

ART-loaded TCH ameliorated the infiltration of Th1, Th2, and inflammatory cytokines in cervical lymph nodes. A-B Flow cytometry was used to detect the percentage of Th2 (n ≥ 6). The TCH and 50 mg/ml and 100 mg/ml ART-loaded TCH groups significantly increased the percentage of Th2 than the T2DM group(p < 0.01). C, D PCR was used to estimate the mRNA expression of Th1 (T-BET) and Th2 (GATA-3) and related secreted cytokines, including IL-4, IL-10, IFN-γ, and TNF-α (n = 3). The 150 mg/ml ART-loaded TCH group remarkably regulated the infiltration of the above cells and cytokines when compared with the T2DM group (p < 0.01). E, F The protein expression of GATA-3, IL-4, T-BET, and IFN-γ were detected by WB and IHC (n = 3). The uncropped blots are displayed in Additional file 3. Data are shown as mean ± standard deviation. *p < 0.05 and **p < 0.01. T2DM, type 2 diabetes mellitus group; TCH, thermosensitive chitosan hydrogel group; Low, 50 mg/ml ART-loaded TCH group; Medium, 100 mg/ml ART-loaded TCH group; High; 150 mg/ml ART-loaded TCH group