Figure 7.

VDR KO mice exhibit ileal dysbiosis, impaired mucosa, and hepatic steatosis. VDR KO and WT littermates in the genetic background (B6.129S4) fed with fortified phosphate and calcium chow for 20w were examined. (A) Representative images of liver tissues, H&E and Masson's trichrome staining. (B) The mRNA levels of DEFA5, MMP7, occludin, and mucin 2 (MUC2) in the ileum of WT, heterozygote, and homozygous VDR KO were determined by RT-qPCR analysis. (C) H. hepaticus and A. muciniphila in the ileum lumen were determined by 16S rDNA qPCR analysis and presented as relative fold of changes. (D) Immunohistochemical staining of MMP7 and DEFA1 in the ileum by WT and VDR KO mice. The data (n = 4–6 for each measurement) are presented as mean ± standard error. Comparison was conducted by t-test between the experimental groups with the control, and ^*P < 0.05, ^**P < 0.01.