Figure 3.

Effects of heat stress, LPS, and a combination of LPS and HS treatment on IEC-6 cell early apoptosis and intestinal epithelial barrier function. IEC-6 cells were treated with LPS (1 µg/ml), HS (42°C for 60 min) or a combination of LPS and HS. (A) Quantification of flow cytometry following Annexin V-fluorescein isothiocyanate/propidium iodide staining. *P<0.05 and ***P<0.001. TEER and HRP permeability analysis of epithelial barrier function of (B) IEC-6 cells after 0, 2, 6 and 12 h treatment, and (C) IEC-6 and Caco-2 cells in the different treatment groups. Data are presented as the mean ± standard deviation of three independent experiments. ***P<0.001 vs. HS and LPS groups. TEER, transepithelial electrical resistance; HRP, horseradish peroxidase; HS, heat stress; CONT, control; LPS, lipopolysaccharide.