Loss of AhR attenuates the effects of IL22 signaling. A: representative brightfield images of colonic organoids treated with IL22 for 5 days. Scale bar 200 μm. B: colonic organoid diameter. Organoids with a diameter >50 μm were quantified. Data were analyzed by one-way ANOVA without Fisher’s LSD correction. C: organoid growth assessed by CellTiter Blue assay, n = 3 mice per group. D: representative immunoblots for pSTAT3 (Tyr705) and STAT3 in AhR WT and KO organoids treated with IL22 for 5 days, n = 3 mice. E and F: quantification of pSTAT3 (Tyr705) and STAT3 protein levels. Expression of antimicrobial peptides Reg3b (G) and Reg3g (H) and colonic stem cell markers, Lgr5 (I) and Ascl2 (J) in response to IL22 treatment, n = 3 mice. K: representative images of secondary organoid growth for WT colonic organoids pretreated with IL22 for 2 days. Scale bar 200 μm. *P < 0.05, **P < 0.01. AhR, aryl hydrocarbon receptor; KO, knockout; LSD, least significant difference; n.s, not significant; WT, wild type.