Fig. 5

The enhanced susceptibility of DSS-induced colitis in Irf7^−/− mice is associated with the defect in the production of IFN-III, but not IFN-I or IFN-II. WT and Irf7^−/− mice were administered 3% DSS, and subsequently, sera and colons were collected on days 0 and 8. The expression levels of Ifna and Ifnb1 genes in colon tissues were detected by RT-qPCR (A, B). The levels of IFN-α and IFN-β proteins in colon tissues and sera were measured by ELISA (C–F). The expression levels of Ifng gene in colon tissues were detected by RT-qPCR (G). The levels of IFN-γ protein in colon tissues and sera were measured by ELISA (H, I). The expression levels of Il28a and Il28b genes in colon tissues were detected by RT-qPCR (J, K). The levels of Il28a and Il28b proteins in colon tissues were measured by ELISA (L–M). D0: WT (n = 4), Irf7^−/− (n = 4), D8: WT (n = 5), Irf7^−/− (n = 5) of RT-qPCR. D0: WT (n = 3), Irf7^−/− (n = 3), D8: WT (n = 5), Irf7^−/− (n = 5) of ELISA. BMDM of WT and Irf7^−/− mice were stimulated with 1 μg Poly(I:C) for 0 h and 24 h, and then supernatants were collected to detect IL-28A and IL-28B protein levels using ELISA (N–O). WT and Irf7^−/− BMDM at each time point, n = 3 at each time point in both groups. The experiment was independently repeated two times. The data are expressed as mean ± s.e.m. NS, not significant, *P < 0.05, **P < 0.01. Two-way ANOVA with Holm-Sidak’s multiple comparisons test (A–O)