Effects of prednisolone, and vitamin D and vitamin E, alone and combined, on the levels of IL-6, IL-12, IL-18, TNF-α and IFN-γ in colon tissues at various time points. The levels of these five cytokines were analyzed on day 8 in colon tissues from G1 and G2. The levels of the five cytokines in G2 were significantly elevated compared with those in G1. On day 15, the levels of the five cytokines were analyzed in G1, G2, G3, G4, G5b and G6. Data are presented as the mean ± SEM. n=6. *P<0.05. G1, control group; G2, 5% DSS group; G3, prednisolone group; G4, vitamin D group; G5a-c, vitamin E (low, medium and high) groups; G6, vitamin D + vitamin E group; DSS, dextran sodium sulfate; IFN-γ, interferon-γ; IL, interleukin; TNF-α, tumor necrosis factor-α.