Figure 2.

Malnutrition promotes translocation of bacteria and bacterial LPS. (A) Quantification of culturable aerobic bacteria in the mesenteric lymph nodes (MLN), liver, and spleen of control (Con) and malnourished (MN) mice. Live bacteria were quantified by plating tissue homogenates on BHI agar (n=4-5 mice per group). Data are presented as the median with interquartile range. (B) Measurement of bioactive LPS in serum from peripheral blood collected from control and MN mice (n=5 mice per group). Determined by HEK-blue TLR4 bioassay. (C) Control and MN mice were administered 0.1 mg/kg body weight of Alexa Fluor488-labeled LPS by oral gavage. Two hours after administration, blood was taken from heart and portal vein. Fluorescence (Ex: 485 nm/Em: 520 nm) in sera was measured by fluorometer to quantify LPS concentration (ng/mL AF488-LPS). (*p < 0.05; **p < 0.01).