Fig. 3.
VDRΔLyz mice with Myeloid VDR deletion developed more and larger tumors, compared with the VDRloxp mice. (A) A schematic overview of the AOM/DSS-induced colon cancer model. AOM (10 mg/kg) was injected on day 0. Starting at Day 7, 2% DSS solution was administered to mice in drinking water with a duration of 7 days. Then, the mice were given DSS-free drinking water for 3 weeks. After that, an additional two cycles of DSS drinking water were administered prior to scarification at Week 19. (B) Colonic tumors in situ. Representative colons from different groups. Tumors were indicated with red arrows. (C) Tumor numbers in AOM-DSS induced colon cancer model: VDRLoxp and VDRΔLyz mice (data are expressed as mean ± SD. n = 8, 11, 10, and 12 for the VDRLoxp control, VDRLoxp tumor, VDRΔLyz control, and VDRΔLyz tumor groups, one-way ANOVA test). (D) The tumor volume in AOM-DSS induced colon cancer model: VDR+/+ and VDR−/− mice (data are expressed as mean ± SD. n = 8, 11, 10, and 12 for the VDRLoxp control, VDRLoxp tumor, VDRΔLyz control, and VDRΔLyz tumor groups, respectively; one-way ANOVA test). (E) Representative H&E staining of “Swiss rolls” of representative colons from the indicated groups. Images are from a single experiment and are representative of 6 mice per group. (F) Levels of CD68, CD3, and CD11b were increased significantly in the tumor tissues of VDRΔLyz mice, compared to the tumor tissues of VDRLoxp mice by IF staining. Images are from a single experiment and are representative of 6 mice per group (data are expressed as mean ± SD. n = 6, one-way ANOVA test). All p values are shown in the figure. (G)Intestine permeability increased in the VDRΔLyz mice with tumors. Experiments were assayed in triplicates (data are expressed as mean ± SD; n = 5, one-way ANOVA test). (H) Serum cytokines IL-1β and IL-17 were significantly increased in the AOM-DSS-treated VDRΔLyz mice. Experiments were assayed in triplicates (data are expressed as mean ± SD. n= 6, one-way ANOVA test). All p values are shown in the figure.