Fig. 2. Emc3 deficiency impairs the mucus-producing function of goblet cells.

a Representative images of goblet cells in ileal sections stained with Alcian blue and Muc2. Scale bar, 50 μm. Right panel: quantification of Muc2+ goblet cells. n = 3 for each genotype. b Expression of goblet cell markers quantified by qPCR. n = 6 for each genotype. c Immunohistochemistry and quantification of Agr2+ goblet cells in the ileum of control and Emc3^ΔIEC mice. n = 4 for each genotype. Scale bar, 100 μm. d Transmission electron microscopy (TEM) images and the measurement of average granular size per goblet cell. Representative of n = 3 for each genotype. Scale bar, 5 μm. Secretory granules in goblet cells, blue outline. Representative images (e) and quantification (f) of immunostained enteroendocrine cells (ee cells), tuft cells, and enterocytes in ileal sections. n = 3 for each genotype. Scale bar, 50 μm. g Expression of specific markers for enterocytes (Lact, Apli, Sis), enteroendocrine cells (Chr-A), and tuft cells (Dclk1, Trpm5). n = 6 for each genotype. h Carnoy’s-fixed, paraffin-embedded sections stained with Alcian blue for visualization of mucus layers. Scale bar, 50 μm. o outer mucus layer, i inner layer. i The distribution of microbes analyzed by in situ hybridization with Eubacteria-specific (red) probes, counterstained with DAPI. Representative of n = 3 for each genotype. Scale bar, 50 μm. Bidirectional arrows indicate the distance between commensal bacteria and host. a–g Statistical data represent mean ± SEM. Student’s t-test: **p < 0.01, *p < 0.05, n.s. no significant.