Ephrin-B2 is differentially expressed in the intestinal epithelium in Crohn’s disease and contributes to accelerated epithelial wound healing in vitro

Figure 6 Stimulation of IEC-6 cells with EphB1-Fc induces subcellular responses compatible with enhanced wound closure capacity. Compared to the non-stimulated control (A), recombinant EphB1-Fc stimulated cells produce an organized migratory activity forming multiple archipelago-like sheets of cells stretching into the denuded area already 6 h after stimulation. In addition, asymmetric lamellipodia are seen (arrow). (B). Staining of actin with phalloidin shows a rounded morphology with less polymerized actin bundles in unstimulated cells (C), whereas EphB1-Fc stimulated cells display a stretched-out, bizarre morphology and apparent assembly of abundant stress fibers. Spike-like protrusions may correspond to focal adhesion assembly (arrows) (D). EphB1-Fc also induces an increased deposition of laminin as a provisional basal membrane at the wound edge (F) (arrows) compared to control cells (E).