Fig. 5: Increased RBC membrane fragility of Muc2^−/− littermates.

a Increased basal osmotic fragility of RBCs isolated from Muc2^−/− littermates when subjected to varying concentration of NaCl. Representative data are from three independent experiments (n = 4–7), paired one-way ANOVA. b Complete blood count (CBC) analysis indicates no significant reduction in hemoglobin (HGB) levels and RBCs count in Muc2^−/− as compared to Muc2^+/+ littermates (n = 6). Higher platelets (PLT) count in Muc2^−/− however indicates increased hemolysis. Representative data are from three independent experiments, paired Student’s t test. c Percent reticulocytes count in the blood from Muc2^−/− and Muc2^+/+ littermates using new methylene blue dye (n = 5). Representative data from one of two independent experiments. d, e Levels of hepatic SCD-1 d mRNA (n = 7) and e protein levels in Muc2^−/− at basal state suggest reduced activity as compared to Muc2^+/+ littermates (n = 3–5). Graph shows cumulative data are from three independent experiments, paired Student’s t test. f Lowered levels of hepatic mono-unsaturated fatty acids (MUFA) and polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFA) in Muc2^−/− as compared to Muc2^+/+ littermates (n = 3–5). MUFA and PUFA levels were measured by ¹H NMR in the lipophilic fraction collected after methanol and chloroform extraction of homogenized liver. Representative data are from three independent experiments, paired Student’s t test. g Percentage of SCFA present in the circulation of Muc2^−/− compared to Muc2^+/+ littermates as measured by GC–MS analysis (n = 6–8). Representative data are from two experiments. h Relative quantification of gene transcripts levels involved in SCFA absorption (SLC5A8 and GPR109A) in colonic tissue and liver samples from Muc2^−/− and Muc2^+/+ littermates (n = 6). i Relative quantification of transcripts levels of key genes involved in fatty acid synthesis and fatty acid oxidation in liver samples from Muc2^−/− and Muc2^+/+ mice (n = 5). Graph shows representative data from two independent experiments. *p < 0.05, **p < 0.01 and ***p < 0.001.