Figure 4.

Dusp6 deletion protects against DSS‐induced colitis in mice. Eleven‐week‐old Dusp6 ^+/+ and Dusp6 ^‐/‐ mice were treated with 2% DSS in drinking water for 7 days. (a) Body weight was measured every day during treatment (n = 21). (b) Disease activity index of Dusp6 knockout mice and control littermates was calculated by scoring stool softness, occult fecal blood, rectal bleeding, and colon rigidity at sacrifice (n ≥ 21). (c) Hematoxylin and eosin staining was performed on Dusp6 ^+/+ and Dusp6 ^−/− colon tissue to score the damage according to the extent of destruction of normal mucosal architecture (0, normal; 1, 2, and 3, respectively, mild, moderate, and extensive damage), presence and degree of cellular infiltration (0, normal; 1, 2, and 3, mild, moderate, and transmural infiltration, respectively), extent of muscle thickening (0, normal; 1, 2, and 3, respectively mild, moderate, and extensive thickening), presence or absence of crypt abscesses (0, absent; 1, present; see arrowheads) and the presence or absence of goblet cell depletion (0, absent; 1, present). (n = 18). Scale bars=250 µm. Data are expressed as mean ± SEM. Student’s t test; *p ≤ 0.05, **p ≤ 0.01. DUSP6: dual‐specificity phosphatase 6; DSS: dextran sulfate sodium