Figure 5. Lcn2 expressing L. lactis protects against DSS-induced mucosal injury.

Eight weeks old female BL6 WT mice (n=6) were given 1.5% DSS in drinking water for 7 days. After cessation of DSS on day 7, mice were maintained on regular water. On day 8 onwards, mice were orally administered with Lactis^Lcn2 or Lactis^Con (1x10⁸ CFU/mouse) once daily. The following parameters were analyzed (A) body weight, (B) gross colon, (C) spleen weight, (D) colon length, (E) colonic MPO activity and (F) colonic MPO protein level. Histology images of (G) H&E-stained and (H) Alcian blue-stained colons. (I) Histological scores of H&E-stained colons. In vitro assays were performed in triplicates and are representative of two independent mouse experiments. The perceptive markers of intestinal inflammation: (J) serum KC, and (K) SAA were measured by ELISA. The qRT-PCR analysis was used to measure the mRNA expression of colonic (L) KC, (M) TNF-α and (N) iNOS. Values are represented as fold change normalized to 36B4 housekeeping gene and compared to the control group. In vitro assays were performed in triplicates and are representative of two independent mouse experiments. Results are expressed as mean ± SEM. *p<0.05.