Figure 2.

EHEC induction of hBD2 and IL-8 in a polarized human colonic biopsy model. Human colonic biopsy samples were sandwiched between two Perspex disks with a central aperture and mounted in Snapwell supports as described in Experimental Procedures. Mucosal sides of matched biopsies were infected with EHEC strains EDL933, Walla-1, H07184, or left NI for 7 h. (A) Scanning electron micrograph of colonic biopsy after 7 h of incubation. The white circle indicates the central aperture of the disk. Bar = 200 μm. (B) Intact colonic surface epithelium at higher magnification. Bar = 50 μm. (C) EDL933 intimately adhering to colonic biopsy epithelium. Bar = 2 μm. Images are representative of three experiments performed in duplicate. (D) AMP and IL-8 mRNA levels were quantified by qPCR and expressed as fold changes relative to matched NI controls. Data points represent individual biopsies from a total of six patients. Medians are indicated by a line. ^*P < 0.05, ^**P < 0.01 vs. NI control.