Figure 4. A HF diet protects against DSS colitis and K. pneumoniae dissemination from microbiota.

(A) Diagram of experimental design. Mice were placed on a HF or a FF diet and colonized with WT K. pneumoniae after antibiotic pretreatment followed by treatment with 5% DSS in the drinking water. (B and C) Disease activity (B) and weight change (C) were monitored during DSS treatment. After 4 days of treatment, mice were euthanized. (D) Colon length was quantified. (E) Colon tissue was microscopically scored for evidence of inflammation. (F–J) CFU were quantified in the proximal small intestine (F), distal small intestine (G), feces (H), blood (I), and liver (J). Data are presented as the mean ± SD. Results are a combination of 3 independent experiments (B, C, and F–J; n = 15 mice per group) or a combination of 2 independent experiments (E; n = 8–9 mice per group). **P < 0.01, ***P < 0.001, and ****P < 0.0001, by multiple unpaired, 2-tailed t tests with Bonferroni’s multiple correction (B and C), unpaired, 2-tailed t test (D–H), or Mann-Whitney U test (I and J).