Figure 4. GCC immunization does not intensify mucosal autoimmunity in experimental colitis.

A, female C57BL/6 mice were immunized with Control-AV or GCC-AV and boosted sequentially with RV and VV at 28 day intervals. Four days later, mice were treated with a 7 day course of 4% DSS ad libitum in the drinking water, followed by normal water. Mouse weights were monitored daily. Data indicate means and error bars indicate 95% confidence intervals (P >0.05 Bonferroni's multiple comparison's test on area under the curve (AUC) values, Control vs. GCC -immunized DSS treatment groups, Supplementary Fig. 2). B-D, some mice were euthanized on day 9 for examination of disease markers including diarrhea (B), fecal blood (C) and histology (D). Images in D₁ are representative sections from treated mice and D₂ indicates histological scores from treated mice. Data in B-D indicate means of N=5 mice per group and error bars indicate standard deviation (# P >0.05 Bonferroni's multiple comparison test).