Figure 6.

B. subtilis supplementation reversed B. wexlerae-induced AZA therapeutic failure in intestinal colitis mouse model

(A) Schematic diagram of the DSS-induced acute colitis model with different treatments including AZA, B. wexlerae, and B. subtilis capsules. Control group (n = 5), AZA group (n = 5), (B. wexlerae+AZA) group (n = 5), and (B. wexlerae+AZA+B. subtilis capsule) group (n = 5) in DSS-induced colitis model.

(B) The alterations in mouse DAI score. n = 5/group, Student’s t test. Data are represented as mean ± SEM.

(C) Gross morphology of the colon in different treatment groups of DSS-induced colitis mice.

(D) Mouse colonic sections were stained by hematoxylin and eosin. Original magnification, ×5 (top row) and ×20 (bottom row).

(E) The histology scores of colonic sections in C57BL/6 intestinal colitis mice. n = 5/group, Student’s t test. Data are represented as mean ± SD.

(F) Representative images for each marker of Il1b⁺S100a8⁺ macrophages were shown in mice colon of different groups.

(G) Relative odds ratios (OR) across samples of inflammatory macrophage markers Il1b and S100a8 co-staining with CD68 macrophage cells versus total cells are shown. n = 5/group, Student’s t test. Data are represented as mean ± SD.

(H) Relative abundance of 6-TX and 6-TIMP in feces of mice. n = 5/group, Student’s t test. Data are represented as mean ± SD.

(I) Schematic diagram of the relationship among B. wexlerae, XDH, and AZA treatment failure in patients with IBD. AZA, azathioprine; 6-MP, 6-mercaptopurine; 6-TIMP, 6-thioinosine-monophosphate; 6-TX, 6-thioxanthine; 6-TGN, 6-thioguanine nucleotide; XDH, xanthine dehydrogenase; HPRT, hypoxanthine phosphoribosyltransferase.