(A–D) Acute colitis was induced in Sphk2−/− mice and WT littermates with 5% DSS in drinking water for 5 days followed by recovery for 5 days on normal drinking water. Changes in body weight (A), colon shortening (B), mucosal histology examined by H&E staining (C, scale bar, 100 μm), and colitis severity scores were determined (D) in a double-blind manner. In (A), (B), and (D), data are means ± SEM (n=6). *p<0.05, **p<0.001 compared to WT treated with DSS.
(E,F) S1P in serum (E) and colon (F) was measured by LC-ESI-MS/MS.
(G,H) Expression of SphK1 and SphK2 in colons was determined by QPCR (G) and western blotting (H).
In (E–G), data are means ± SD (n=3). *p<0.05, **p<0.005.
See also Figure S1.