Figure 3. Neutrophils confer protection against colitis through induction of AREG by IECs.

WT mice were administered 2% DSS in drinking water for 7 days, followed by 3 days of water. The mice were given Ly6G-depleting antibody i.p. every 3 days. One group of mice received AREG every 2 days and the other group received PBS. One group of mice treated with DSS were administrated with IgG to serve as control. (A) Relative change in body weight. (B) Representative images of H&E-stained colon sections. Scale bar, 100 μm. (C) Blinded histopathological scoring. (D) Protein level of inflammatory cytokines in colonic culture supernatant. (E) mRNA expression level of HNF4α, TJP1 in isolated IECs. (F) FITC-dextran level in plasma was determined. n = 4 per group. Data are representative of 3 independent experiments; ND, not detectable; *P < 0.05, **P < 0.01, ***P < 0.001 unpaired Student’s t test, one-way ANOVA, nonparametric Mann–Whitney U test.