Figure 1

TSC2 inactivation results in altered goblet cell differentiation. (a) Immunohistochemical (IHC) staining demonstrated increased expression of phospho-S6 (some are indicated by arrows) in intestinal epithelium of TG mice compared with WT mice. (b) Mucosal protein lysates extracted from WT and TG mice were used for western blot detection of phospho-S6 and total S6 protein expression. The levels of p-S6 were quantitated densitometrically and expressed as fold change with respect to total S6. (c and d) Alcian blue (AB) staining of the intestine revealed a reduction in mucinous goblet cells in TSC2-mutant TG mice compared with WT mice (c, some are indicated by arrows). (d) Quantification of AB-positive cells in WT- and TSC2-mutant TG mice. (Data represent mean±S.D.; *P<0.05 versus WT). (e and f) (IHC) staining for MUC2 further confirmed the decrease in goblet cells in TSC2-mutant TG mice compared with WT mice (e, some are indicated by arrows). (f) Quantification of MUC2-positive cells in WT- and TSC2-mutant TG mice. (Data represent mean±S.D.; *P<0.05 versus WT). (g) Mucosal protein lysates extracted from WT and TG mice were used for western blot detection of MUC2 protein expression. Scale bars, 50 μm