Expression of the methylcytosine dioxygenase ten-eleven translocation-2 and connexin 43 in inflammatory bowel disease and colorectal cancer

Figure 5 Dextran sulfate sodium increases connexin 43 and ten-eleven translocation-2 expressions in vivo. A: Left panel: Histograms show the normalized gene expression of connexin 43 (Cx43) in mice colon tissues, as detected by quantitative polymerase chain reaction (qPCR). Middle panel: Western blot of Cx43 protein in mouse colon tissues. Right panel: Densitometric analysis of protein expression after normalization to β-actin. Dextran sulfate sodium (DSS)-treated mice had the highest expression of Cx43 in their colons; B: Left panel: Histograms display the normalized gene expression of ten-eleven translocation-2 (TET-2) in mouse colon tissues, as detected by qPCR. Middle panel: Western blot of TET-2 protein expression in mouse colon tissues. Right panel: Densitometric analysis of protein expression after normalization to β-actin. DSS exposure resulted in enhanced TET-2 transcription and carbenoxolone inhibition of gap junctions significantly increased TET-2 expression; C: Immunofluorescence images of colon tissues stained for Cx43 with the mean fluorescence intensity (MFI) analysis. Scale bar 20 μm; D: Immunofluorescence images of mouse colon tissues stained for CD68 and TET-2. Histograms reflect the MFI analysis. High levels of CD68⁺ cells correlated with greater expression of Cx43 and TET-2 in DSS-exposed mice. Scale bar 10 μm. Experiments were repeated five times. One-way ANOVA, ^aP < 0.05; ^bP < 0.005; ^dP < 0.0001. MFI: Mean fluorescence intensity; CBX: Carbenoxolone; DSS: Dextran sulfate sodium.