Fig. 4: Increased severity of DSS-induced chronic colitis and AOM/DSS-induced carcinogenesis in Fam3D^−/− mice.

WT (n = 10) and Fam3D^−/− mice (n = 9) were given 1.5% DSS in drinking water for 4 days followed by normal water for 2 weeks for 5 cycles. On week 15, mice were euthanized and colons were harvested. a Survival curves of mice. b, c Changes in body weight (%) and colon length (cm). d The number of tumors in the colon of WT and Fam3D^−/− mice. White arrow: tumors. e Tumors in the colon examined by H&E staining. Scale bar = 50 μm. NF: neoplastic foci; IL: infiltrated leukocytes. Mice were given 12.5 kg g−1 AOM and followed by 1.5% DSS in drinking water for 3 days. Mice were then given normal water for 2 weeks. The treatment was repeated 3 cycles. f–i Survival curves of mice, body weight loss, colon length and tumor numbers. j–k Tumors developed in the colon of WT and Fam3D^−/− mice examined by H&E staining (j). Scale bar = 100 μm (left panels); Inset scale bar = 50 μm (middle panels) and 20 μm (right panels). IG: invasive gland; mm: muscularis mucosa; asterisk: atypical glandular architecture. Dual immunofluorescent staining of β-catenin (green) and Ki67 (red) in colon tumors of WT and Fam3D^−/− mice (k). Scale bar = 50 μm. Data is representative of one experiment repeated two independent times. Data is presented as the mean ± SEM. Statistical significance was determined by unpaired, two-tailed Student’s t test.