Fig. 5

The effect of high salt diet on exacerbation of colitis is dependent on gut microbiota. a DSS colitis macroscopic scores at endpoint (day 7) in three groups of mice: control (no DSS colitis), DSS (control diet, DSS in water), HSD + DSS (high salt diet, DSS in water). b Colon length of mice at endpoint. c Colonic MPO. d Histological scores of the DSS colitis. Values are presented as means ± SEM; n = 3–6 mice/group. *p < 0.05, **p < 0.01. e Heatmap of the gene expression of 68 genes related to immune, gut barrier, and neural function, in the colon tissue of germ-free mice after DSS administration, on control diet or HSD: C + D (control diet + DSS), HS + D (HSD + DSS). The heatmap was generated based on group average using Euclidean distance metric