FIG 2.

C. difficile TcdA injection promotes TGF-β1/SMAD signaling activation in ileal loop epithelium. TcdA injection (10 μg/loop) promoted TGF-β1 signaling activation by SMAD2/3 nuclear translocation in ileal loop tissue (B and C) compared to that in the control group (A and C). The increase in SMAD2/3 nuclear accumulation was evident in epithelial (vEpt), crypt epithelium (Cpt), and lamina propria (Lp) layers (dashed box b') compared to that in the control (dashed box a'). *, P < 0.05 (Student's t test). Scale bar: 100 μm.