Fig. 4.

Epithelial HK2 protein expression increases with inflammation severity. Colonic mucosa biopsies of unrelated UC patients were stained for HK2, epithelial cells (ECAD) and nuclei (DAPI). All biopsies were analyzed for classical histological signs of inflammation using the Nancy score (see the “ Methods” section). A Quantification of HK2 and ECAD signal intensity in apical intestinal epithelium. Note that HK2 and ECAD level decrease with higher Nancy Scores. B HK2 protein expression normalized to ECAD levels. Note that after epithelial normalization HK2 expression increases with inflammation severity, i.e., Nancy score. Significance testing was performed using one-way ANOVA compared to score = 0. C Representative images of the multiplex immunofluorescence staining (HK2, ECAD, DAPI). Scale bar indicates 50 μm. n = 7–10 per group. Note that microscopic images were taken from areas with rather intact epithelium for a better visualization of the mucosal structure