The transcription factor IFN regulatory factor–4 controls experimental colitis in mice via T cell–derived IL-6
J. Clin. Invest. Jonas Mudter, et al. 118:2415 doi:10.1172/JCI33227 [Go to this article.]

Figure 4
Differences in mucosal IL-6 expression between WT and IRF4-deficient mice. On day 4, colons of the different groups of mice were analyzed for cytokine levels by quantitative PCR. Relative expression levels of IL-6, TNF, TGF-β, IFN-γ, and IL-13 mRNA were measured by quantitative real-time RT-PCR. Values were normalized to β-actin expression levels. (A) The mRNA expression of various pro- and antiinflammatory cytokines in the colons of oxazolone-treated IRF4-deficient and WT mice was analyzed by quantitative PCR (n = 8 per group). Whereas no differences were noted in the expression of TGF-β and TNF, IL-6 mRNA expression was strongly induced in WT but not IRF4-deficient mice upon oxazolone administration. In addition, there were no significant differences in IL-13 mRNA levels between the groups. **P < 0.01. (B) The mRNA expression pattern of several cytokines was also determined in TNBS colitis (n = 8 per group). Whereas no significant differences in the expression of the proinflammatory cytokines TNF and IFN-γ were noted between the groups, IL-6 mRNA expression was strongly induced in WT but not IRF4-deficient mice upon TNBS administration. *P < 0.05.