Fig. 5

Effects of LPS stimulation on HEECs. A. The mRNA and protein expression of TLR2 following LPS exposure (200 µg/ml). TLR2 mRNA expression: Ctrl vs. LPS = 1.0 ± 0.1 vs. 1.9 ± 0.1, P < 0.05; TLR2 protein expression: Ctrl vs. LPS = 0.7 ± 0.4 vs. 1.5 ± 0.1, P < 0.01. B. The mRNA and protein expression of claudin-1 following LPS exposure (200 µg/ml). Claudin-1 mRNA expression: Ctrl vs. LPS = 1.0 ± 0.0 vs. 0.4 ± 0.0, P < 0.001; claudin-1 protein expression: Ctrl vs. LPS = 1.5 ± 0.1 vs. 1.0 ± 0.1, P < 0.05. C. The intercellular space shown by H&E staining following LPS exposure (200 µg/ml): Ctrl vs. LPS = 0.4 ± 0.1 μm vs. 1.5 ± 0.2 μm, P < 0.001. D. The mRNA and protein expression of IL-6 following LPS exposure (200 µg/ml). IL-6 mRNA expression: Ctrl vs. LPS = 1.0 ± 0.2 vs. 3.9 ± 0.0, P < 0.001; IL-6 protein expression: Ctrl vs. LPS = 189.3 ± 5.4 pg/ml vs. 473.5 ± 7.9 pg/ml, P < 0.001. Abbreviation: Ctrl: control; LPS: lipopolysaccharide; IL: interleukin; DIS: dilated intercellular space; HEEC: human esophageal epithelial cell line; *: P < 0.05; **: P < 0.01; ***: P < 0.001