Figure 5
Intestinal epithelial cell-specific knockout of Sirt6 gene increases susceptibility to DSS-induced colitis in mice. Sirt6IEC-KO mice (n = l4) and their control littermates (n = l7) (male, 8–l0 wks old) were given drinking water containing 3.5% DSS for 7 d. A set of mice received normal drinking water as controls. (A) Body weight and (B) disease activity index (DAI) were monitored on a daily basis. Mice were euthanized at d 7 of DSS treatment. (C) Colonic tissues were processed for routine histology and H&E staining and assessed in a double-blind fashion for histological colonic tissue injury in terms of (D) inflammation severity and (E) crypt of damage using a scoring system described in Materials and Methods. (F) The severity of colitis was further determined by MPO assay. Results are expressed as mean ± SEM. *, P < 0.05 versus control.