Fig 2: The morphology and BA-related receptor expression in colon tissues of STC patients and healthy subjects. (A) HE staining of colon tissues. Red arrows indicated inflammatory cell infiltration, and black arrows indicated mucosa layer structure of colon tissues. (B) Immunohistochemical staining results of TGR5 and FXR. The number of positive cells was quantitatively analyzed in six random selected fields of the same size using NIH ImageJ software. Significance compared with the control group, **p < 0.01 or *p < 0.05 vs. the control group.

Fig 3: The gene and protein expression levels of TGR5 and FXR in colon tissues of STC patients and healthy subjects. (A) qRT-PCR results of gene expression of TGR5 and FXR. (B) Gene primer sequence. The relative gene expression levels were calculated by the 2-??CT method with GAPDH as the internal reference (n = 6). (C) Western blotting results of protein expression of TGR5 and FXR. NIH ImageJ software was used to quantify the relative optical density of protein bands. Values are means ± SD (n = 6). The protein expression was detected in the same gel in which GAPDH was used as the internal control. Significance compared with the control group, **p < 0.01 or *p < 0.05 vs. the control group.

Fig 4: SRT1720 restored the protein expressions of FXR, Bsep, and Mrp2 in mice total livers. (A) Western blot analysis was used to measure FXR, Bsep, and Mrp2 expressions. (B) Specific band intensity was quantified, normalized to GAPDH. (C) Immunofluorescence staining of frozen liver sections showing Bsep and Mrp2 expressions. (D) Fluorescent intensities of Bsep and Mrp2 were measured by Image-Pro Plus software.

Fig 5: SRT1720 altered the gene expressions of hepatic transporters involved in bile acid transport in mice total livers. Quantitative real-time PCR analysis was performed to measure the gene expression levels (A) HNF1a and FXR, (B) Ntcp and Oatp1b2, (C) Bsep and Mrp2, (D) Mrp3 and Mrp4, (E) Cyp7A1 and Shp. Data are the mean ± SD (n = 6). *P < 0.05 versus vehicle; #P < 0.05 versus vehicle +ANIT.