Effect of toll-like receptor 3 agonist poly I:C on intestinal mucosa and epithelial barrier function in mouse models of acute colitis

Figure 2 Effect of poly I:C on intestinal barrier in dextran sulfate sodium-induced acute colitis. A: MPO activity was measured; B: Quantification of serum FITC-D as a measure of intestinal barrier functions; C: The ultrastructural features of colon under scanning electron microscope. The colon mucosa in the control group was regular without histological lesion. In the model group, the mucosa showed severe loss with obvious histological lesions, including crypt distortion and abscesses. The lesions were significantly ameliorated by poly I:C pretreatment (Upper images: × 500; Lower images: × 2000). Data are expressed as mean ± SD. ^bP < 0.01 vs control group; ^dP < 0.01 vs model group. FITC-D: Fluorescein isothiocyanate labeled-dextran; MPO: myeloperoxidase.