IL-4 Receptor-Alpha Signalling of Intestinal Epithelial Cells, Smooth Muscle Cells, and Macrophages Plays a Redundant Role in Oxazolone Colitis

Figure 5

Oxazolone colitis develops in macrophage and neutrophil-specific IL-4Rα-deficient mice. LysM^creIL-4Rα^-/lox mice were not protected from the onset of oxazolone-induced colitis compared with littermate control mice, shown by comparable (a) weight loss as a percentage of starting weight, (b) survival, and (c) increased distress (day 2). (d) This was also demonstrated in the macroscopic appearance of the distal colon and (e) colon shortening (cm). Distal colon sections from oxazolone-treated LysM^creIL-4Rα^-/lox mice were stained with PAS and scored for the presence of colitis and compared to wild-type littermate controls treated with oxazolone or control mice treated with ethanol only. Colitis was scored with a maximum score of 15, and results were represented as the colitis score. Data represents >2 individual experiments (-10 mice). , vs. IL-4Rα^-/lox etoh-only control mice. SM = submucosa, M = mucosa, ➔ = infiltrating mononuclear cells, E = edema, and G = goblet cells.

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