FIG 4.

Gene expression of host-intestinal tissues in response to L. acidophilus NCFM colonization. IL-12b, OCLN, and TJP1 genes were significantly downregulated in small intestinal regions of NCFM-colonized mice (n = 3) compared to germfree mice (n = 3). The data represent the means of three biological replicates, and the error bars represent the standard deviations (SD). Values that are statistically significantly different (P < 0.05) are indicated by a bar and asterisk. No significant difference in the ACTB housekeeping gene transcript levels was observed for all tissue segments between the two groups (see Fig. S3A at Dryad, https://doi.org/10.5061/dryad.mcvdncjzr).