Fig. 2

Autophagic inhibition in azoxymethane/dextran sodium sulfate (AOM/DSS)-derived mice colon tumors using the CreERT system. a Schematic representation of Atg5 genetic inhibition by tamoxifen (TAM) in AOM/DSS-induced colon tumors. b Representative histopathological images of staining for hematoxylin and eosin (HE) or Atg5 in AOM/DSS-derived colon tumors in Atg5^flox/flox/K19^CreERT+ (Atg5-deficient) and Atg5^flox/flox (Ctr) mice 7 days after TAM injection. Scale bars, 50 μm. Original magnification, ×200/400. c Representative immunohistochemical images of p62 staining in the non-tumor colon mucosa and AOM/DSS-derived colon tumors in Atg5-deficient mice and Ctr mice. Scale bar, 50 μm. Original magnification, ×200. d Representative immunoblot analysis image of the indicated proteins from AOM/DSS-derived colon tumors in Atg5-deficient mice and Ctr mice (two different mice each). e Body weight, colon length, tumor number, and tumor size were determined in Ctr mice (n = 9) and Atg5-deficient mice (n = 11). Data shown are means and SEM. *; p < 0.05 by the Mann–Whitney U-test. f Representative immunohistochemical images for PCNA and Ki67 staining in AOM/DSS-derived colon tumors in Ctr mice and Atg5-deficient mice. Scale bars, 50 μm. Original magnification, ×100/200/400. g The proportion of Ki67-positive cells in AOM/DSS-derived tumor cells in Ctr mice and Atg5-deficient mice. Data shown are means ± SEM (n = 3). *; p < 0.05 by the Mann–Whitney U-test