Exaggerated IL-15 and Altered Expression of foxp3+ Cell-Derived Cytokines Contribute to Enhanced Colitis in Nlrp3−/− Mice

Figure 2

DSS-treated Nlrp3−/− mice exhibit increased numbers of colonic foxp3+ cells that exhibit reduced IL-10 but increased IL-17 expression. Representative images of (a) WT and (b) Nlrp3−/− colonic sections stained for foxp3; scale bar = 50 microns. (c) Quantification of foxp3+ cells in WT versus Nlrp3−/− mice on following 7 days of DSS exposure. Data are expressed as the number of foxp3+ cells per high-powered field (HPF). denotes compared to WT mice; /group; 4 HPF/mouse. (d) Flow cytometric analysis of foxp3+/CD3+ cells isolated from the LP of WT versus Nlrp3−/− mice on following 7 days of DSS exposure. denotes compared to WT mice; /group. (e) Flow cytometric analysis of IL-10 expression in foxp3+/CD4+ T regulatory cells isolated from the LP of WT and Nlrp3−/− mice on day 7 of DSS. denotes compared to WT nice; /group. (f) IL-17 expression in foxp3+/CD4+ cells isolated from the LP of naive and DSS-treated WT and Nlrp3−/− mice. denotes compared to naive mice; # denotes compared to WT mice; /group. (g) IL-17 expression in foxp3−/CD4+ cells isolated from the LP DSS-treated WT and Nlrp3−/− mice; /group.

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