Probiotics increase T regulatory cells and reduce severity of experimental colitis in mice

Figure 1 Change of body weight amplification, colonic weight index, colonic weight and colonic length. A: Percent of body weight amplification; B: Colonic weight; C: Colonic weight index; D: Colonic length. Normal: In the normal group, the animals were administrated with physiological saline; Model: In the model group, the animals were challenged with 2,4,6-trinitrobenzene sulfonic acid (TNBS) without treatment; Bifico: In the Bifico group, the animals were challenged by TNBS and treated with Bifico at 345 mg/kg; Mesalazine: In the Mesalazine group, the animals were challenged by TNBS and treated with 300 mg/kg Mesalazine. Data are means ± SE (n = 10). ^aP < 0.05, ^bP < 0.01 vs the normal group; ^cP < 0.05 vs the model group.

Figure 2 Representative histological images and scores of mice. A: The normal group; B: The model group; C: The bifico group; D: The mesalazine group; E: Histological images and scores (hematoxylin and eosin, light microscope, × 100). Normal: In the normal group, the animals were administrated with physiological saline; Model: In the model group, the animals were challenged with 2,4,6-trinitrobenzene sulfonic acid (TNBS) without treatment; Bifico: In the Bifico group, the animals were challenged by TNBS and treated with Bifico at 345 mg/kg; Mesalazine: In the Mesalazine group, the animals were challenged by TNBS and treated with 300 mg/kg mesalazine. Data are means ± SE (n = 10). ^bP < 0.01 vs the normal group; ^dP < 0.01 vs the model group.

Figure 3 Representative flow plots and level of CD4⁺CD25⁺Foxp3⁺T cell. A: The normal group; B: The model group; C: The bifico group; D: The mesalazine group; E: The level of CD4⁺CD25⁺Foxp3⁺T. Normal: In the normal group, the animals were administrated with physiological saline; Model: In the model group, the animals were challenged with 2,4,6-trinitrobenzene sulfonic acid (TNBS) without treatment; Bifico: In the Bifico group, the animals were challenged by TNBS and treated with Bifico at 345 mg/kg; Mesalazine: In the Mesalazine group, the animals were challenged by TNBS and treated with 300 mg/kg Mesalazine. Data are means ± SE (n = 10). ^aP < 0.05 vs the normal group; ^cP < 0.05 vs the model group.

Figure 4 Expression of cytokines in colonic mucosa. A: Level of tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-α; B: Level of interferon (IFN)-γ; C: Level of interleukin (IL)-2; D: Level of IL-4; E: Level of IL-10. Normal: In the normal group, the animals were administrated with physiological saline; Model: In the model group, the animals were challenged with 2,4,6-trinitrobenzene sulfonic acid (TNBS) without treatment; Bifico: In the Bifico group, the animals were challenged by TNBS and treated with Bifico at 345 mg/kg; Mesalazine: In the Mesalazine group, the animals were challenged by TNBS and treated with 300 mg/kg Mesalazine. Data are the means ± SE (n = 10). ^aP < 0.05, ^bP < 0.01 vs the normal group; ^cP < 0.05, ^dP < 0.01 vs the model group.