Figure 7.

EPO Treatment Downregulates Proinflammatory Immune Pathways and Improves Disease Activity in DSS-Induced Colitis

Epor^−/− mice and Epor^+/+ littermates on a C57BL/6 background were administered 3% DSS dissolved in water or water alone (controls) for 7 consecutive days. Thereafter, DSS was replaced by drinking water and all animals were followed up for another 7 days. Subsequently, mice were injected with EPO (or PBS) on days 7, 8, and 9 after induction of colitis as indicated by arrows.

(A) Changes in body weight as combined from two independent experiments and 5–14 DSS-treated mice per group are presented and were compared as detailed in the legend to Figure 6. Data of mice receiving drinking water are not depicted. Statistical significant differences between DSS-treated Epor^+/+ mice receiving either PBS or EPO are indicated.

(B) Histopathological colitis scores for mice administered either water or DSS (n = 5–14 per group) with each point representing an individual mouse.

(C and D) qRT-PCR analysis of immune response genes (C) and NF-κB p65 binding activity (D) in colons of these mice (n = 5–14 per group).