Figure 3.
Neutralization of SCF enhances mucosal wound repair in the colon. A-B, SI and DAI scores from mice injected with 3 mg/mouse anti-SCF248&220 Ab or IgG control Ab at days 5 and 7 during DSS-induced colitis and repair. N = 13 DSS + IgG Ab; 13 DSS + SCF248&220 Ab animals/group achieving 95% power where alpha value = 0.05 at day 8. Data are combined from 2 independent experiments and are expressed as means ± SEM. Significance is determined by 2-way ANOVA followed by Bonferroni’s posttest. **P < .01; ***P < .001. C, Representative images of H&E staining of sections of Swiss roll mounts from the distal colon of mice treated with either anti-SCF248&220 or IgG antibodies. Colonic tissues were harvested on day 8 of the experiment. Scale bars are 2 mm (whole colon) and 200 µm (inset). D, Calculation of histological colitis score of injury/ulceration that represents the ratio of the length of injured/ulcerated areas (≥50% crypt loss) relative to the entire colon length reveals less mucosal ulcerations in anti-SCF248&220 Ab-treated mice compared with controls. Dots represent individual mice. N = 5 DSS + IgG Ab; 5 DSS + SCF248&220 Ab animals/group achieving 95% power where alpha value = 0.05 at day 8. Data are combined from 2 independent experiments and are expressed as means ± SEM. Significance is determined by a 2-tailed Student’s t test. ***P = .0006. E, Neutralization of SCF improves mucosal wound healing following biopsy-induced injury; 10 μg of SCF248&220 or IgG antibodies were injected into the wound bed on day 1. Analysis of wound closure at day 3 postbiopsy wounding revealed a significant increase in wound repair following SCF neutralization. Dots represent the mean value calculated from the analysis of 3 to 5 wounds from individual mice. N = 7 DSS + IgG Ab; 7 DSS + SCF248&220 Ab animals/group achieving 95% power where alpha value = 0.05 at day 3. Data are combined from 2 independent experiments and are expressed as means ± SEM. Significance is determined by a 2-tailed Student’s t test. ***P = .0002.