Figure 4.

The expression levels of tight junction proteins were decreased in Caco-2 cells inoculated with D. desulfuricans culture inoculating medium. Caco-2 cells were co-cultured with plain inoculating medium (Plain IM, 100 μL/mL), Escherichia coli inoculating medium (Ecoli IM, 100 μL/mL), or D. desulfuricans culture inoculating medium (Des IM, 100 μL/mL) for 6 h. (A) Representative immunofluorescence staining for ZO-1. (B) Representative immunofluorescence staining for Occludin. (C, D) Quantitative analysis of images from (A) and (B) (n = 12 per group). (E) The expression of tight junctions was examined by Western blot. (F) Gut microbiota with statistically significant differences (HFD + PBS vs HFD + Des, P < 0.05) was represented as a heatmap. The red boxes represent intestinal-permeability protective microbes. (G) Western blot protein bands were quantified using densitometry and Quantity One software. Data are shown as mean ± SD. Significances among the 4 groups were determined by one-way ANOVA, followed by post hoc pairwise comparisons with the Tukey honest significant difference. ns (no significance), P < 0.01 (∗∗), or P < 0.001 (∗∗∗).