Figure 5. Autophagy process contributes to defense against bacterial invasion and regulation of pathogenic inflammation following enteric pathogen infection.

After ATG7^fl/fl or ATG7^∆IEC mice were infected with oral M90T, terminal ileum was analyzed by time course (n=10). (A) Hematoxylin-eosin (H&E) staining of terminal ileum 24 h after infection. Representative images and pathologic score for cell death and shedding are shown. (B) CFU from ileum, mesenteric lymph nodes (MLN), and feces of ATG7^fl/fl or ATG7^∆IEC mice 1 h after infection. (C) Confocal image of green fluorescent protein (GFP)-expressing M90T that invaded the terminal ileum of ATG7^fl/fl or ATG7^∆IEC mice at 1 h after infection. (D) H&E staining of terminal ileum at 24 h after infection. Representative images and pathologic scores for inflammation were addressed. (E) TNF-α and IFN-γ from ileum tissue homogenates of ATG7^fl/fl or ATG7^∆IEC mice 24 h after infection. (F) Immuno-staining of terminal ileum of ATG7^fl/fl or ATG7^∆IEC mice 24 h after infection. CD11b⁺ monocyte-like cells (red), Gr-1⁺ neutrophil (green). *< P=0.05, **< P=0.001, ***< P=0.0001.