Fig. 2.

Crohn’s SCs are more inflammatory than normal SCs. (A) IL-6, (B) TGF-β, and (C) ICAM-1 mRNA and protein expression by Crohn’s SCs and normal SCs (2–4 × 10⁵) exposed to medium, CBir1 flagellin (5 μg/mL), E. coli LF82 (MOI 1, 6 hours), TNF (7.5 ng/mL) or IFN-γ (10 ng/mL) (n > 3). Inset (A, right panel): % inhibition of IL-6 released by Crohn’s SCs after knockdown of NFKBIZ and stimulation with LF82 (n = 3). (D) SMAD7 mRNA expression in normal SCs and Crohn’s SCs following exposure to LF82 (MOI 1) (n = 3–4) and SMAD7 mRNA expression in biopsies from normal and Crohn’s inflamed mucosa (n = 3). (E) Transcriptome analysis of genes and molecules in inflammatory response and cytokine signaling biologic functions and diseases in (column 1) Unstimulated Crohn’s SCs versus unstimulated normal SCs, (column 2) LF82-stimulated Crohn’s SCs versus unstimulated Crohn’s SCs, and (column 3) LF82-stimulated Crohn’s SCs versus LF82-stimulated normal SCs (n = 16). Values shown are the activation z-scores; values >2.0 considered significantly activated, and values <−2.0 considered significantly inhibited (mean ± SEM; *p < 0.05, **p < 0.01, ***p < 0.001). E. coli = Escherichia coli; ICAM = intercellular adhesion molecule; IFN = interferon; IL = interleukin; MOI = multiplicity of infection; mRNA = messenger ribonucleic acid; SC = stromal cell; SEM = standard error of the mean; TGF = transforming growth factor; TNF= tumor necrosis factor.