Fig. 4.

DJ-X-013 treatment ameliorated DSS-induced colitis in mice. Change in body weight and colon length after DJ-X-013 treatment in DSS-induced colitis. C57BL/6 mice received daily treatment in drinking water for 7 days as follows: control mice received plain water + vehicle (), DSS-treated mice received 3.5 % DSS + vehicle (), and DSS + DJ-X-013 mice received 3.5 % DSS + 20 mg/kg body weight DJ-X-013 (). (A) The body weight of each mouse was recorded every day and the change from the initial body weight was expressed as a percentage change in body weight (n = 5). (B) Macroscopic view of colon length and related plot (C) Macroscopic view of spleen size and related plot of spleen weight. (D) MLNs were isolated from each mouse and MLN cells were isolated and counted; shown is the count per mouse. (E) Histological analysis of H&E-stained colon tissue from each experimental group is shown in representative microphotographs. Scale bars 200 μm in upper panels and 50 μm in lower panels, respectively. The epithelial fold length and sub-mucosal width or thickness were measured from histological images using ImageJ software (NIH) and the inflammation score was determined based on epithelial damage, loss of goblet cells, crypt disruption, and infiltration of inflammatory cells. Statistical analysis was performed using one-way ANOVA followed by Dunnett’s post hoc test in (B) n = 5, (C) n = 6, (D) n = 5–8, and (E) n = 65 for epithelial fold length, n = 105 for submucosal thickness and n = 16 for inflammation score. Data are presented as mean values ± SEM, ns p > 0.05; *p < 0.05; **p < 0.01; ****p < 0.0001.