Figure 2: VSL#3-induced changes in macrophage morphology. (A-D) Representative micrographs illustrating the morphology of untreated (A,C,E) and treated (B,D,F) M1, M2, and MΦ macrophages at day 11 of the protocol. Treatment consisted of exposure to 3.33x107 CFU of the probiotic mixture VSL#3 for 3 days. Scale bar = 0.25 mm in A and applies to A-F. (G) Quantification of cells demonstrating different morphological characteristics. Cells were quantified by using the ‘cell counter’ and ‘analyze particles’ features of Image J. Two high-powered fields (mm2) were counted per well, one in the center of the well and another in the periphery. Data represents the mean ± SE of 10-12 counts per treatment, half in the center and half in the periphery. (H) Length of the fibroblast-like macrophages quantified in G, measured with ImageJ. Data were analyzed using one-way ANOVA and Tukey’s multiple comparisons test. *p<0.05, ***p<0.001 vs M2+VSL#3; ##p<0.01 vs MΦ; †††p<0.001 vs M1, xp<0.05, xxp<0.01 vs MΦ+VSL#3.