Fig. 6.
Trp feeding and metabolites prevent ezrin activation in mouse model of colitis, which is AhR dependent. (A–C, M, and N) Ahr+/− or Ahr−/− mice were fed a Trp-rich diet (42 g Trp/kg diet) or standard chow (2 g Trp/kg diet) for 7 d, followed by administration of DSS (3%, wt/vol) or vehicle for 7 d (ad libitum) with continued Trp feeding. (D–M and O–Q) Alternatively, Ahr+/− or Ahr−/− mice were pretreated with I3A (1,000 mg/kg), IPyA (2,900 mg/kg), or IEt (600 mg/kg) for 2 d and then administered DSS (3%, wt/vol) for 7 d (ad libitum) with continued metabolite treatment. Activated ezrin levels within intestinal tissue were determined by (A–L) Western blotting against p-ezrin and quantified by densitometry (n = 3) or (M–Q) immunofluorescence, followed by confocal microscopy and quantification of relative (rel.) brightness (n = 15). (Scale bar: 20 μm.) Data are representative of at least three independent experiments, n = 5 mice per group. One-way ANOVA followed by post hoc Tukey’s test: ***P < 0.001, n.s. = not significant.