Fig. 3

LQF maintains intestinal barrier integrity by upregulating HIF-1α in colon. A Ventricular remodeling was constructed in Wistar rats and randomly divided into 4 operated groups, and set up a sham-operated group as a control (for 2ME group, n = 4, 2ME + LQF group, n = 5, other groups, n = 6). Rats were administrated by gavage with LQF alone (315 mg/kg) or intraperitoneally administrated with 2ME (15 mg/kg) or both for 4 weeks. B H&E (scale bar = 200 μm) and AB-PAS staining (scale bar = 200 μm) of the colon. C Plasma LPS (ng/L), D-lactate (μg/L), and zonulin (ng/L) content in rats were measured. D Serum TNF-α (ng/L), and IL-1β (ng/L) content in rats were measured. E, F Immunohistochemistry (scale bar = 50 μm) and protein expression of HIF-1α in the colon were shown. Three views were randomly selected from each slice (for 2ME group, n = 4, 2ME + LQF group, n = 5, other groups, n = 6) for target protein detection, the fluorescence intensity and grayscale values were quantitatively analyzed using ImageJ software. The fluorescence intensity and grayscale values of the model group were calibrated to a value ‘one’, respectively, and the remaining groups were analyzed relative to the model group. G Protein expression of Occluding and Claudin-1 in the colon. β-actin served as a loading control. Three samples were randomly selected from each group for target protein detection, and the grayscale values of each band were quantitatively analyzed using ImageJ software. The average grayscale value of the model group was calibrated to a value ‘one’, and the remaining groups were analyzed relative to the model group. H Immunofluorescence of Occludin, Claudin-1, and ZO-1 in the colon (scale bar = 50 μm). Three views were randomly selected from each slice (for 2ME group, n = 4, 2ME + LQF group, n = 5, other groups, n = 6) and the fluorescence intensity of each slice was quantitatively analyzed using ImageJ software. The average fluorescence intensity of the model group was calibrated to a value ‘one’, and the remaining groups were analyzed relative to the model group. All data are expressed as mean ± standard deviation, # p < 0.05, ### p < 0.001, vs Sham, * p < 0.05, ** p < 0.01, *** p < 0.001, ns (not significant) compared with indicated group