New strain of Pediococcus pentosaceus alleviates ethanol-induced liver injury by modulating the gut microbiota and short-chain fatty acid metabolism

Figure 3 Histopathological examination of the colon and the expression of intestinal barrier markers. A: Representative histological images of the colon stained with hematoxylin and eosin and images of immunofluorescence staining for ZO-1. Scale bar: 100 μm; B: Relative mRNA levels of ZO-1, mucin (MUC)-1, MUC-2, MUC-4, Reg3β and the total bacterial 16S rRNA. All data are presented as means ± SE. ^aP < 0.05, ^cP < 0.001 vs the Control group. ^dP < 0.05, ^eP < 0.01, ^fP < 0.001 vs the EtOH group. P. pentosaceus: Pediococcus pentosaceus; HE: Hematoxylin and eosin; MUC: Mucin.