Gut microbial metabolites as key mediators in inflammatory bowel disease

Figure 9 Biological activity of 2-hydroxybutyric acid in the pathogenesis of inflammatory bowel disease in Muc2^-/- mice. A: Gene expression of pro-inflammatory cytokines in colon; B: Intestinal content of inflammatory interleukin-1β; C: n (%) of regulatory T cells in the mesenteric lymph nodes; D: Effect of 2-hydroxybutyric acid on CD80 expression in peritoneal macrophages. Values are shown as medians and interquartile range (from min to max). All assays were performed in one experiment, consisted of 4-11 biological replicates (mice) per group. ^aP < 0.05 vs the control, Mann-Whitney U test. Treg: Regulatory T cells; 2-HB: 2-hydroxybutyric acid; IL: Interleukin; TNF-α: Tumor necrosis factor-α.