3,6-dichlorobenzo[b]thiophene-2-carboxylic acid alleviates ulcerative colitis by suppressing mammalian target of rapamycin complex 1 activation and regulating intestinal microbiota

Figure 3 3,6-dichlorobenzo[b]thiophene-2-carboxylic acid improved branched-chain amino acid catabolism in dextran sodium sulfate-induced colitis mice. A: The expression of branched-chain α-keto acid dehydrogenase kinase in colon sections was detected by immunohistochemical assays (n = 4, 200 × magnification); B-E: Western blot images and quantitative data of branched-chain amino acid (BCAA) catabolic enzymes in colon tissues (n = 3-4); F: The contents of BCAAs, including valine, leucine and isoleucine, in mouse serum were determined by liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (n = 10). ^dP < 0.05, ^eP < 0.01, and ^fP < 0.001 vs the dextran sodium sulfate group; ^cP < 0.001 vs the control group. The data are shown as the mean ± SD. BCKDK: Branched-chain α-keto acid dehydrogenase kinase; DSS: Dextran sodium sulfate; SASP: Salazosulfapyridine; BT2: 3,6-dichlorobenzo[b]thiophene-2-carboxylic acid.