Association of hepatocyte-derived growth factor receptor/caudal type homeobox 2 co-expression with mucosal regeneration in active ulcerative colitis

Figure 1 Immunopositive cells in peripheral blood and lamina propria of patients with ulcerative colitis. A: Hepatocyte-derived growth factor receptor (HGFR)⁺ cells in peripheral blood (black arrows indicate immunoreactive cells; magnification × 400); B: HGFR⁺ cells in lamina propria (black arrow indicates a group of immunoreactive cells underneath the epithelium; magnification × 200); C: CDX2⁺ (clone: ATM28) cell (red circle) in lamina propria (black arrow indicates a crypt base with CDX2⁺ epithelial cells; magnification × 400); D: CD133⁺ cells in peripheral blood (black arrow indicates immunoreactive cells; magnification × 600); E: CD133⁺ cell (black arrow) in lamina propria underneath the epithelium (magnification × 300). In all cases hematoxylin co-staining was performed.

Figure 2 Double fluorescent immunoreactive cells in peripheral blood and lamina propria of patients with active ulcerative colitis. A: Hepatocyte-derived growth factor receptor (HGFR)⁺/CDX2⁺ cell in peripheral blood (white arrow indicates immunoreactive cell; magnification × 600); B: HGFR⁺/CDX2⁺ cells in lamina propria (white arrows indicate immunoreactive cells underneath the epithelium; white thin arrow indicates a crypt base with CDX2⁺ epithelial cell; magnification × 600); C: HGFR⁺/CD133⁺ cell in lamina propria (white arrow; magnification × 600); D: CD133⁺/CDX2⁺ cell in lamina propria (white arrow; magnification × 600); E: Musashi-1⁺/CDX2⁺ cell in the lamina propria (white arrow; magnification × 600). Red fluorescent labeling: Texas-Red; Green fluorescent labeling: FITC.

Figure 3 Foldchange alterations of the assayed genes in peripheral blood and lamina propria samples. ¹Significant (P < 0.005) gene expression alterations between ulcerative colitis (UC) and healthy control (N) samples. LP: Lamina propria; HGFR: Hepatocyte-derived growth factor receptor.

Figure 4 Foldchange alterations of the assayed epithelial genes in peripheral blood and lamina propria samples. ¹Significant (P < 0.005) gene expression alterations between ulcerative colitis (UC) and healthy control (N) samples. C: Control samples (SW480 cells in blood, crypt epithelial cells in lamina propria (LP) laser-microdissected samples).