Figure 5. A, Western blot of VEGF-C, VEGFR-2 and VEGFR-3 in the different experimental groups. B, Comparison of VEGFR-3 mRNA expression detected by quantitative real-time RT-PCR. VEGFR-3 mRNA levels were significantly upregulated in VEGF-C156S-treated mice compared to DSS-treated mice (P<0.001) as well as water-treated mice (P<0.001). C, Quantitative comparison of Western blot of VEGFR-2, VEGFR-3 and VEGF-C between experimental groups. VEGF-C expression was upregulated in AD-VEGF-C-treated mice compared to DSS-treated mice (P<0.001). DSS-treated mice had higher levels of VEGF-C expression compared to water-treated mice (P<0.001). VEGFR-3 expression in colonic mucosa was higher after VEGF-C treatment compared to mice treated with water (P=0.001) or DSS (P=0.01). Data are reported as means±SD. *P<0.05 compared to 5% DSS-treated mice. ^†P<0.05 compared to water-treated mice (n=5/group). Statistical analysis was performed by ANOVA and Bonferroni's post-hoc test. AD-VEGF-C: adenovirus vascular endothelial growth factor-C; DSS: dextran sodium sulfate.