Fig. 1: Muc2^−/− littermates exhibit basal systemic inflammation.

a Determination of antibodies against LPS and flagellin in the sera of Muc2^−/− littermates by ELISA (n = 10). Representative data are from four independent experiments; paired Student’s t test. b High basal LDH levels in the circulation confirm damage and toxicity of tissue in Muc2^−/− littermates (n = 6). Representative data from three independent experiments; paired Student’s t-test. c, d High pro-inflammatory cytokine gene expression in the spleen and liver of Muc2^−/− littermates as determined by real time RT-PCR (n = 5). Representative data of four experiments; paired Student’s t test. e Complete blood count (CBC) analysis showing high levels of WBC, monocytes, and lymphocytes in the circulation of Muc2^−/− animals as markers of systemic inflammation (n = 6). Representative data from two different experiments; paired Student’s t test. f Percent macrophages and neutrophil population in spleen from naive Muc2^−/− and Muc2^+/+ littermates. Single live cells population were gated for CD11b⁺F4/40⁺ (macrophages) and CD45⁺Ly6G⁺ neutrophils (n = 6). Representative data from two independent experiments. Abbreviations used: LPS lipopolysaccharide; LDH lactate dehydrogenase; TNF-α tumor necrosis factor alpha; IL-1β interleukin 1 beta; WBC white blood cells. Data are presented as means ± SEM. *p < 0.05, **p < 0.01, and ***p < 0.001.