Fig. 7

DSG2^ΔIEC and DSC2^ΔIEC mice display differential phenotypes as well as alterations in their plasma membrane proteome. a Overall colon architecture of DSC2^ΔIEC mice and corresponding floxed mice (DSC2^fl/fl) was evaluated prior to (ctrl) and 7 days after DSS exposure by hematoxylin and eosin (H&E) staining. Scale bar = 200 µm. b The relative body weight of DSC2^ΔIEC mice (red rectangles, ΔIEC) and their floxed littermates (blue circles, fl/fl) was measured daily starting at the day of the first DSS administration (n = 7). c The mRNA levels of the pro-inflammatory cytokine TNFα and the antimicrobial peptide REGIIIβ were evaluated prior to (ctrl) and 7 days after DSS exposure by real time RT-PCR. The cytokine expression in ctrl animals was arbitrarily set as 1. L7 (mouse ribosomal protein) gene was used as an internal control. d Plasma membrane protein fractions were isolated from colons of both genotypes and subjected to immunoblotting. Coomassie blue staining of blots was used as loading control. Gal3, Galectin 3; Hsp70, heat shock protein 70. e Colonic mucosa lysates from fl/fl animals were used for co-immunoprecipitation with Dsg2 (left panel) and Dsc2 (right panel), that was followed by immunoblotting. IgG-conjugated beads (IgG) and total lysates (Total) were used as a control and an input, respectively. f Schematic illustrates the molecular changes seen in DSG2^ΔIEC and DSC2^ΔIEC mice