FIG 6.

TLR stimulation decreased K. pneumoniae translocation and increased mucosal bacterium-killing activity, TLR4 expression, and NF-κB DNA binding activity in the intestinal mucosa in germfree mice. (A) The mucosal bacterium-killing activity against E. coli and K. pneumoniae was significantly decreased in germfree mice compared with SPF mice. TLR stimulation with dead E. coli significantly increased the mucosal bacterium-killing activity against E. coli in germfree mice. (B) K. pneumoniae translocation to MLNs and liver of germfree mice was significantly increased compared with that of SPF mice. TLR stimulation with dead E. coli significantly decreased K. pneumoniae translocation to MLNs and liver. Oral supplementation with dead S. aureus in germfree mice significantly decreased K. pneumoniae translocation to the liver. (C) Reg3β, Reg3γ, RELMβ, CRP-ductin, Defcr-rs-10, Crypt1, and Crypt4 mRNA expression in the intestinal mucosa of germfree and SPF mice. (D) TLR stimulation with dead E. coli or S. aureus (Sta.) significantly induced TLR4 protein expression in the intestinal mucosa in germfree mice. (E) TLR stimulation with dead E. coli or S. aureus significantly induced NF-κB DNA binding activity in the intestinal mucosa in germfree mice. GF, germfree mice; SPF, specific-pathogen-free mice. *, P < 0.05; **, P < 0.01; ***, P < 0.001. n = 4 to 6/group.