Steroid-sensitive UC patients show a greater DSG2 staining.

<p>Immunofluorescence staining score (mean±SEM) of DSG2 (Panel A) in colonic biopsies of steroid-sensitive and steroid-refractory UC patients, before and after treatment. Representative DSG2 staining intensity of steroid-sensitive (Panel B) and steroid-refractory (Panel C) patients are also provided. All images are 630 x. *p≤ 0.004 <i>vs</i> steroid-refractory patients, ^#p = 0.023 <i>vs</i> after GC treatment.</p

IL-10 and GC preserve p38 MAPK-dependent desmosome integrity and strength in Caco-2 monolayers.

<p>Representative transmission electron microscopy images of the paracellular junctions in Caco-2 cell monolayers treated with GC (Panel A), GC plus IL-10 (Panel B) or GC, IL-10 and SB203580 (Panel C) D: desmosomes; TJ: tight junctions. Magnification varies from 25,000 x to 100,000 x.</p

IL-10 reverts the GC-mediated decrease in phosphorylated-p38 MAPK activity.

<p>Figure shows (median (IQR, limits)) the ratio for total p38 MAPK (Panel A) and phosphorylated p38 MAPK (Panel B) versus control group in TNF-treated Caco-2 cell monolayers. An example of Western blot bands obtained for these proteins and α-tubulin (as housekeeping protein) is provided in Panel C. *p≤ 0.026 <i>vs</i>. all other groups, ^#p = 0.028 <i>vs</i>. TNF_IL10 and TNF_GC_IL10;.</p

IL-10 and GC restore control TEER values in Caco-2 cell monolayers.

<p> Figure represents median values (IQR, limits) of percent TEER changes in Caco-2 cell monolayers after 48h of incubation with different stimuli. *p ≤ 0.02 <i>vs</i> control and TNF_GC_IL10.</p

SB203580 reverses the synergistic action of IL-10 and GC on TEER in Caco-2 cell monolayers.

<p>Values are median (IQR, limits) of percent TEER changes in Caco-2 cell monolayers after 48h of incubation with different stimuli. *p≤ 0.042 <i>vs</i> control.</p

p38 MAPK phosphorylation is reduced in colonic epithelial cells from GC-refractory UC patients before treatment.

<p>Panel A shows the immunostaining score (mean±SEM) of phosphorylated p38 MAPK in colonic biopsies of steroid-responsive and steroid-refractory active UC patients, before and after GC treatment. *p = 0.028 <i>vs</i> steroid-sensitive patients before treatment. Panel B provides representative images from steroid-refractory UC biopsies (score value 0–1), and from steroid-sensitive UC biopsies (score value 2–3). Scale bar: 20 μm.</p

IL-10 plus GC increases GCR-α (p38 MAPK-dependent) and IL-10R-α expression in Caco-2 cell monolayers.

<p>Graphs represent fold change values (2^-AACt) of IL-10R- β (Panel A), GCR-α (Panel B) and IL-10R-α (Panel C) expression, with respect to their basal condition (control or DMSO group). *p≤ 0.04 <i>vs</i> other groups.</p