Dysregulated signal transducer and activator of transcription 3 drives intestinal permeability and may contribute to acute-on-chronic liver failure

Figure 3 Signal transducer and activator of transcription 3 reduction as well as enhanced signal transducer and activator of transcription 3 expression impairs permeability of epithelial cell layers. To determine the influence of signal transducer and activator of transcription 3 (STAT3) on epithelial permeability, monolayers consisting of Caco-2 or T84 cells with different levels of STAT3 expression were generated and epithelial permeability was analyzed by transepithelial electrical resistance (TEER) measurements over 28 days and compared to controls. A and B: Graphs show the differences of TEER values after 4 days, 7 days, 11 days, 14 days, 18 days, 21 days, 25 days and 28 days compared with endogenous STAT3 expressing (pLKO.1 transduced) controls; C and D: TEER values at day 28 were calculated in relation to controls in percent and shown as bar diagrams. Reduced (STAT3 -) as well as enhanced STAT3 (STAT3 +) expression resulted in a significant reduction in monolayer resistance values of Caco-2 and T84 monolayers. Data are expressed as mean ± SEM as appropriate. Differences between mean resistance values were assessed for statistical significance using one-way analysis of variance followed by Dunnett multiple comparisons test. P values are two-sided (n = 3-5). ^dP < 0.0001. STAT3: Signal transducer and activator of transcription 3; TEER: Transepithelial electrical resistance.