Fig. 2.
Levels of the αvβ3 integrin ligands vitronectin (VN) and fibronectin (FN) are increased in the muscularis propria during chronic intestinal inflammation. Representative immunoblots of αv and β3 integrin subunit expression (A) and vitronectin and fibronectin expression (C) after chronic muscle inflammation was induced by TNBS. The levels of αv and β3 integrin (B) are not increased in the colonic muscle of TNBS-treated animals compared with control. The levels of vitronectin and fibronectin (D) are increased in the colonic muscle of TNBS-treated animals. Integrin levels were measured by immunoblot analysis in lysates prepared from smooth muscle cells isolated from the colon of rats 7 days following rectal administration of TNBS or vehicle alone. Results are expressed in relative densitometric units in samples containing equal amounts of total protein. Values represent means ± SE of 4 experiments on separate animals. *P < 0.05 vs. control.