In vitro differentiated Th2 cells
Th2 cells were differentiated from peripheral blood CD4+ T cells, as we previously described [35]. CRTh2+CD4+ T cells (Th2 cells) were maintained (2 x 106 cells/mL) on cycles of IL-2 (5-10 ng/mL) and plate bound antibody against CD3 and CD28 (3 days, 1µg/ml) followed by IL-2 alone (4 days). For experiments with glucocorticoid and estrogen, primary Th2 cells (1.3 x 106 cells/mL) were treated (24 hours) with dexamethasone (DEX), the ERα agonist propyl pyrazole triol (PPT) or β-estradiol (E2). To assess Th2 cell response to CRTh2 activation, Th2 cells were pre-treated with DEX and/or PPT (24 hours), washed and re-plated with PGD2 (24 hours). Thesein vitro experiments were approved by the Ethics Review Boards at the University of Alberta (00000942) and Western University (106770).