Time-series spatial transcriptomic analysis of murine colon undergoing AOM-DSS tumorigenesis with and without LXR activation

To unbiasedly characterize the spatial transcriptomics landscape of murine colorectal cancer initiation and progression, we performed a time-series spatial transcriptional analysis of total colonic tissue during the course of azoxymethane (AOM)-dextran sodium sulfate (DSS) induced colorectal cancer from mice receiving standard (chow) diet. Additionally, to understand the role of LXR activation during AOM-DSS tumorigenesis, we also collected colonic tissues from mice fed with GW3965 diet. Wild type C57BL/6J male mice were fed with either a control (standard) diet or a diet with LXR agonist GW3965. Mice were injected with 10mg/kg body weight azoxymethane (AOM). One week after AOM injection, mice were exposed to DSS in drinking water for 7 days followed by 7 days of recovery (DSS-cycle). This DSS cycle was repeated two more times for a total of 3 times with 7 days between each cycle. Colonic Swiss rolls were collected on day22, day43 or day70 (only for STD Diet) after AOM injection, processed and submitted for sequencing. Colonic Swiss rolls from mice fed with standard (for 43 days, defined as d0 as they were untreated) diet but no AOM or DSS were used as control.