Fig. 8: NOR drives Treg cells abundance to alleviate colitis in mice via modulating AhR/glycolysis axis and subsequent NAD⁺/SIRT1/SUV39H1/H3K9me3 signaling pathway.

Mice were fed with 2.5% DSS for 7 days and followed by 3 days of drinking water alone. TCDD (25 µg/kg; i.p.) was administered once on day 1, whereas NOR (40 mg/kg; i.g. and p.r.), CH223191 (10 mg/kg; i.p.), and HK2 plasmid (10 µg; p.r.) were administered for 10 days. a The mRNA and protein levels of CYP1A1 in colons were analyzed by Q-PCR and western blotting, respectively. b The mRNA and protein levels of HK2 and Glut1 in colons were analyzed by Q-PCR and western blotting. c The level of NAD⁺ in colons was analyzed by kits. d The mRNA level of SIRT1 in colons was analyzed by Q-PCR; the protein levels of SIRT1, SUV39H1, and H3K9me3 in colons were analyzed by western blotting. e The frequencies of Treg cells in mesenteric lymph nodes (MLNs) and colonic lamina proprias (LPs) were analyzed by flow cytometry. f The mRNA and protein levels of Foxp3 in colons were analyzed by Q-PCR and western blotting, respectively. g The mRNA expression of IL-10 in colons was analyzed by Q-PCR. h Body weight change was analyzed. i Disease activity index (DAI) scores were calculated. j Colon length was analyzed. k Histopathological changes of colons were analyzed by H&E staining and the images were taken at × 200 magnification (scale bar: 50 μm). l Myeloperoxidase (MPO) activity was analyzed by kits. m The mRNA and protein levels of TNF-α and IL-1β were analyzed by Q-PCR and ELISA. Data were expressed as means ± SEM of six mice in each group. ^##P < 0.01 vs. Normal group; ^*P < 0.05 and ^**P < 0.01 vs. DSS group; ^$P < 0.05 and ^$$P < 0.01 vs. NOR (40 mg/kg; i.g.) group