Blockade of α₁ inhibits cytokine mRNA expression in DSS-treated murine colons. Levels of TNF-α, IFN-γ, IL-1β, IL-12, and IL-10 mRNA expression were measured in colons from WT or α₁-deficient mice treated for 7 days with DSS. DSS-treated WT mice received either no mAb, isotype control mAb, or anti-α₁ mAb. For quantitation, cytokine values are expressed as fold increase over the mean values obtained for healthy control colon tissue. *P < 0.05, anti-α₁ mAb vs. isotype mAb and α₁^–/– vs. WT, respectively. ^#P < 0.05 vs. WT + H₂O. Data represent mean ± SEM. ctrl, control.