Figure 3.

Treatment with CRAMP suppresses the development of oxazolone-induced colitis in mice. (A) The RNA and (B) protein levels of CRAMP and its receptor FPR2 increased more significantly in oxazolone-induced ulcerative colitis than those in TNBS-induced colitis. Gene expression levels in colon tissue were determined by real-time PCR and normalized with GAPDH. Mice were sensitized and administrated intrarectally with 1% oxazolone or 2.0 mg TNBS in 100 μL 50% Ethanol. Colon samples were collected 3 days later. (C) In a treatment experiment, mice were sensitized and challenged intrarectally with oxazolone, and CRAMP was administered intrarectally for six consecutive days. (D) The survival rate of mice, and (E) body weight regain were improved in the mice receiving 20 mg/kg CRAMP. (F) Representative pictures of colon were presented, and (G) reduced ratios of colon weight to length were obtained in 20 mg/kg of CRAMP-treated mice. Statistical significance was analyzed by one-way ANOVA followed by Newman-keuls multiple comparisons test, ***p < 0.001, **p < 0.01; n = 4 (A and B) and n = 5–6 (F); ^###p < 0.001, comparing 20 mg/kg (n = 6) with 5 mg/kg (n = 5) of CRAMP by unpaired Student's t-test, (F); n = 6–11 (D). Repeated-measures two-way ANOVA with Bonferroni correction was used to compare measurements of mouse bodyweight, **p < 0.01, n = 12 – 22, comparing the mice receiving 20 mg/kg CRAMP and the mice receiving 0 mg/kg CRAMP (E).