Figure 1.
Loss of LRP6 expression affects Wnt target gene expression without altering intestinal architecture. (A) LRP6 and β-catenin expression was analyzed in 12-week-old murine small IEC-enriched lysates by Western blot. (B) β-catenin target gene expression was evaluated by qPCR of IEC-enriched RNA (n ≥ 5). (C) Villus length and crypt depth were determined on H&E-stained jejunal sections (n ≥ 8). Bars: 100 µm. (D) Proliferation was assessed after BrdU immunohistochemistry on mutant and control jejunal sections (n = 9). Bars: 50 µm. (E) The expression of mucin 2 (Muc2), lysozyme (Lyz1) and sucrase-isomaltase (Sis), the main markers of goblet, Paneth and absorptive cells, respectively, was evaluated by qPCR on IEC-enriched RNA (n ≥ 8). (F) OLFM4 immunohistochemistry was performed on 12-week-old control and Lrp6IEC-KO jejunal sections (n ≥ 7) to visualize intestinal stem cells. Bars: 50 µm. Data are expressed as mean ± SEM. Mann–Whitney U test * p ≤ 0.05, ** p ≤ 0.01.