Fig. 2

Nlrp3 ^R258W mice are resistant to DSS-induced colitis and colorectal cancer. a–c Colitis was induced in the WT (n = 32) and Nlrp3 ^R258W (n = 21) mice using 2.5% DSS. The body weights (a change in percentage), survival rates (b change in percentage), and disease scores (c arbitrary unit) were assessed daily. d The colon lengths were measured from the cecum–colon junction to the anus end of a loosely stretched colon with a straight ruler upon killing of indicated experimental mice on day 8 and representative examples are shown. e Hematoxylin and eosin (H&E)-stained transverse sections of the colons were examined and scored as described in the “Methods” section. Representative images of these samples are shown; the scale bar is 200 µm. f WT (n = 6 for 3 days, n = 3 for 5 days) and Nlrp3 ^R258W (n = 3 for 3 days, n = 3 for 5 days) mice were treated with 2.5% DSS in drinking water for indicated days, then they were gavaged with FITC-Dextran and leakage of FITC-Dextran into the serum was measured 4 h later. g The indicated cytokines or chemokines in the culture supernatants of colon tissues from mice as shown in d were determined via ELISA. h The indicated transcripts from colon tissue homogenates from mice as shown in d were analyzed by Q-PCR. AU arbitrary unit. i–l WT (n = 10) and Nlrp3 ^R258W (n = 11) mice were treated with AOM + DSS to induce colon cancer. The body weights (i) and survival rates (j) were monitored. The final tumor loads (k) were shown as representative images, and the tumor size distributions (l) were determined. The data are shown as the means ± SEM. *P < 0.05, **P < 0.01, ***P < 0.001 (Two-tailed Student’s t test). Survival rate b, j difference is tested by Log-rank (Mantel–Cox) test, *P < 0.05