Figure 8 Recombinant galectin‐3 stimulation induced strong colonic lamina propia fibroblasts activation, indicating that the strong interleukin 8 (IL8) ‐inducing effect of colonic epithelial cells (CEC)‐conditioned medium could be reproduced by recombinant galectin‐3. CCD‐18Co cells were stimulated with unconditioned medium, CEC‐conditioned medium, immunoprecipitated medium and recombinant galectin‐3 at different concentrations. Recombinant galectin‐3 induced strong IL8 secretion in the cells, comparable to the levels of CEC‐conditioned media. Galectin‐3‐depleted media only reached IL8 levels of unconditioned media. *p<0.01 versus unconditioned media.