Figure 9.

In vivo SEMA3E treatment regulates the production of cytokines by splenic CD11c⁺ cells through the NF‐κB‐dependent pathway in acute dextran sulfate sodium (DSS)‐induced colitis. Sema3e ^+/+ and Sema3e ^−/− mice received 5% DSS solution in the drinking water to induce colitis and were killed on day 5 post‐DSS. Mice received daily i.p. injection of recombinant SEMA3E protein (rec‐SEMA3E; 10 μg·kg⁻¹·day⁻¹; R&D Systems) or 1% PBS with added human IgG Fc protein (Vehicle, Control) for 6 days, starting 1 day before colitis induction. Splenic CD11c⁺ cells were isolated and treated or not with NF‐κB activator (betulinic acid 10 μM; R&D Systems) for 4 hr or NF‐κB inhibitor (BAY‐11‐7082, 10 μM) for 1.5 hr. Supernatants were harvested, and cytokine levels were quantified using ELISA. (a) IL‐12p70, (b) IL‐12p40, (c) IL‐23, and (d) CD11c⁺ cell proliferation. Data represent mean ± SEM (n = 6, *P < 0.05). # refers to a significance when compared with control. One‐way ANOVA followed by multiple comparison test was applied at significance level of 0.05