Fig. 9

Gut-to-lung translocation via the lymphatic system in DSS-induced colitis mice. (A) H&E staining of the distal colon to assess inflammation severity, with histological score, muscularis mucosae thickness, and submucosal thickness measurements. Scale bars = 50 μm (n = 5). (B) CFUs cultured from MLNs of Control and 5% DSS-treated mice (n = 5). (C, D) Box plots showing the α-diversity of lung microbiota in Control and 5% DSS groups, assessed using the Shannon (C) and Simpson indices (D) (n = 3). (E) PCoA plot displaying β-diversity of lung microbiota based on Bray-Curtis distances (n = 3). (F, G) Stacked bar plots presenting average relative abundance of bacteria taxa at the family (F) and genus (G) levels in lung microbiota from Control and 5% DSS-treated mice (n = 3). (H) CFUs cultured from whole lung samples of Control and 5% DSS-treated mice (n = 5). (I) H&E staining of lung sections to assess inflammation severity, with histological score and alveolar septum thickness measurements. Scale bars = 50 μm (n = 5). (J) Airway inflammation assessed by total protein concentration in bronchoalveolar lavage fluid (n = 5). Statistics by one-way ANOVA with Tukey’s post-hoc test. Values shown are the mean ± SEM. * p < 0.05. ** p < 0.01. *** p < 0.001