Interleukin-22 Ameliorates Dextran Sulfate Sodium-Induced Colitis through the Upregulation of lncRNA-UCL to Accelerate Claudin-1 Expression via Sequestering miR-568 in Mice

Figure 3

IL-22 enhances the expression of intestinal epithelial apical junction proteins. (a) HE staining demonstrated pathological changes of the colon tissue. (b) Immunofluorescent staining results compared changes in the expression levels of tight junction (claudin-1) and STAT3 proteins in colon tissues obtained from the control, DSS+PBS, and DSS+IL-22 groups of mice. (c–f) qRT-PCR was conducted to determine the expression of apical junction markers (E-cadherin, claudin-1, ZO-1, and occludin-1) at gene level in colon tissue. (g–i) Immunohistochemistry analysis examined the protein expression levels of intestinal apoptosis marker (cleaved caspase-3) and proliferation marker (PCNA). (j) Western blotting analysis was conducted to detect the expression levels of apical junction proteins (E-cadherin and occludin-1) in colon tissue. Data are presented as . ^##; ^# using Student’s -test.

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