Fig 3. IL-22 confers short-lived rotavirus resistance in antibiotic-treated C57BL76 mice via a mechanism that is not dependent on IFN signaling.
(A, B) RT-qPCR analysis of tonic expression of Il22 and IL-22-regulated genes Reg3b and Reg3g in enriched intestinal epithelial cell fractions of (A) germ-free (GF) or in ileum samples of (B) antibiotic-treated (Abx) mice compared to animals with undisturbed microbiota (SPF). (C, D) Antibiotic-treated WT mice were subjected to brief (n = 5) or extended (n = 10) IL-22 treatment regimens (1 μg per injection, time points indicated by arrows) before infection with 2.4x104 ID50 of murine rotavirus strain EDIM by oral gavage. Control animals (C, n = 5; D, n = 9) were treated with saline. Fecal pellets were collected at the indicated time points and viral antigen in the samples was quantified by ELISA. (E, F) Same experimental setup as in panel D, except that (E) Ifnlr1-/- (saline n = 9; IL-22 n = 10) or (F) Stat1-/- (saline n = 7; IL-22 n = 9) mice were used. Symbols represent individual mice, and bars in (A) and (B) represent means ± SEM. Statistical analysis: Unpaired t-test; ****p<0.0001.