Fig. 3.

Berberine increases apoptosis and reduces TNF production in colonic macrophages from DSS-treated mice. Mice were treated as shown in Fig. 2. The colon tissues were weighed. Colonic cells were isolated and the total cell numbers were recorded. Colonic cells were stained with antibodies to a macrophage marker, F4/80, and TNF. Percentage of positively stained cells was determined by flow cytometry analysis. Total cell number of macrophages (A), TNF-positive cells (C), and macrophages with TNF-positive staining (D) were calculated as percentage of indicated cells × total colonic cells/g colon weight. Colonic macrophages were isolated and cell number was recorded. Apoptosis was detected by annexin V staining and flow cytometry (B). Colonic apoptotic macrophages were calculated as percentage of apoptotic cells × total colonic macrophages/gram colon weight.