Impaired Resolution of Inflammation in the Endoglin Heterozygous Mouse Model of Chronic Colitis
Figure 1
Persistent colonic inflammation in DSS-treated Eng +/− mice is associated with changes in a major gut bacterial group. (a) Eng +/+ and Eng +/− mice were given a 3% DSS solution orally for 5 days (red), followed by return to normal drinking water (blue). The peak of inflammation occurred at days 7–9 for both genotypes; however, by days 18–23, Eng +/− mice showed signs of persistent inflammation, while Eng +/+ mice were undergoing resolution of inflammation. (b) Representative hematoxylin and eosin stained distal colonic sections from colitic mice illustrate massive infiltration of leukocytes in the lamina propria (black arrows) in both Eng +/+ and Eng +/− mice during the acute phase (day 9). Eng +/− mice show persistent leukocyte infiltration and incomplete crypt regeneration at day 19, whereas Eng +/+ mice show minimal signs of inflammation. All images are at the same magnification (Bar = 100 μm). (c) Relative abundance of various gut bacterial groups, Bacteroides, Clostridium coccoides (Cluster XIVa), and Clostridium leptum (Cluster IV), against total eubacteria in Eng +/+ and Eng +/− mice at days 18–23 was determined by real-time polymerase chain reaction (PCR) using group-specific 16S rRNA primers. Results represent mean ± SEM ( mice for Eng +/+ group and 6 for Eng +/− group). versus corresponding Eng +/+ group.
