Figure 7

HQT regulates epithelial proliferation in the colonic mucosa of mice with DSS-induced acute and chronic colitis.

Mice were administered regular water (control) or 3.5% DSS for 7 days followed by treatment with HQT for 7 days. (a–c) Immunohistochemical analysis of tight junction proteins occluding, ZO-1 and proliferating cells detected based on Ki67 in colon sections in DSS-induced acute colitis mice. (magnification, ×200). Graphical representation of the percentage of occluding, ZO-1 and Ki67-positive cells in the mid-colon. Results are expressed as means ± SD of three independent experiments; n = 8 mice per group. ^*p < 0.05, ^**p < 0.001 vs. the control group; ^△p < 0.05, ^△△p < 0.001 vs. DSS-treated mice. Mice received three cycles of DSS treatment (2.5%), each cycle consisting of 7 days of water containing DSS followed by 14 days of tap water, followed by treatment with HQT for 7 days. (d) Immunohistochemical analysis of proliferating cells detected based on Ki67 in colon sections in mice with DSS-induced chronic colitis (magnification, ×200). Graphical representation of the percentage of Ki67-positive cells in the mid-colon. Results are expressed as means ± SD of three independent experiments; n = 8 mice per group. ^*p < 0.05, ^**p < 0.001 vs. the control group; ^△p < 0.05, ^△△p < 0.001 vs. DSS-treated mice.