(a) Representative colon H&E images showing normal grade 0 (untreated control RM) and grade 1–3 (DSS-treated RM) colitis. (b) Representative images of claudin-3 stained colon showing normal grade 0 (untreated control RM) and grade 1–3 (DSS-treated RM) lesions. Notice the strong claudin-3 expression in the colonic epithelium from grade 0 and grade 1, with reduced and absent claudin-3 expression in grade 2 and 3 lesions respectively. (c) Quantification of the percentage of the colon linear length that is damaged (i.e. claudin-3 negative). (d) Representative images of myeloperoxidase (MPO) stained colon showing the lack of PMN infiltration in normal grade 0 (untreated control RM) colon and the increased PMN infiltrate in grade 1–3 (DSS-treated RM) lesions. (e) Quantification of the percent area of the colon (all segments) that is occupied by MPO+ PMNs. (f) Direct positive correlation between the extent of GI epithelial damage and the magnitude of PMN infiltration into the colon (all segments). Lines are based on linear regression and r and P values are based on Spearman rank correlation coefficient. P values are based on the Mann-Whitney test (c, e). Untreated control RMs (blue circles) n=4 (e,f) to 10 (c), acute DSS-treated RMs (red circles) n=6, chronic DSS-treated RMs (red squares) n=2, and chronic SIV+ RMs (grey circles) n=14. Bar graphs show group means ±SEM with individual animal data points shown. Scale bars = 100 μm.