(A) HIF isoforms were knocked down in IECs using lentiviral-delivered shRNA. CoCl2 treatment was used to stabilize HIF for analysis of knockdown efficiency.
(B) Knockdown of HIF isoforms impairs Hx-mediated reduction of intracellular STm. *p < 0.05 by t test.
(C) Intracellular burden of STm in IECs is reduced by either incubation at Hx or treatment with the autophagy activator RAP. Conversely, inhibition of autophagy with 3-methyladenine (3-MA) increases intracellular proliferation of STm. MOI = 10. Results are representative of at least two separate experiments; in the case of STm infection, at least three biological replicates were used per experimental group.