Therapeutic and prophylactic thalidomide in TNBS-induced colitis: Synergistic effects on TNF-α, IL-12 and VEGF production

Figure 1 HE staining of tissue obtained from the left colon of animals: untreated colitis (A), therapeutic-thalidomide (B), respectively. Sample from untreated colitis group shows gross ulceration and intense cellular infiltration, congestion and edema, while thalidomide-treated animal presents less inflammation and no ulceration (Original magnification × 100).

Figure 2 Histological inflammatory scores of the colon. Total score of histological parameters analyzed in all groups: untreated colitis, therapeutic- and prophylactic-thalidomide, placebo-treated, and normal controls, respectively (n = 10 in each group). Horizontal bars represent medians, boxes represent the 25^th and 75^th percentiles, and vertical bars represent ranges. Differences were analysed using one-way ANOVA with the Dunnett’s test for multiple comparisons. Significant differences are presented.

Figure 3 Macrophages in the colonic lamina propria. Immunoperoxidase staining for macrophages is shown in placebo-treated colitis (A), therapeutic-thalidomide (B), and in a normal control (C), respectively. Arrowheads show immunoreactive cells (Original magnification × 400).

Figure 4 Quantitative analysis of CD4+ T-cells and macrophages in the colonic lamina propria of animals with untreated colitis, animals receiving therapeutic or prophylactic thalidomide, placebo-treated, and normal controls, respectively (n = 10 in each group). Horizontal bars represent medians, boxes represent the 25^th and 75^th percentiles, and vertical bars represent ranges. Significant values are presented. Differences were analysed using one-way ANOVA with the Dunnett’s test for multiple comparisons. Significant differences are presented.

Figure 5 Quantitative analysis of CD4+ T-cells and macrophages in the colonic lamina propria of animals with untreated colitis, animals receiving therapeutic or prophylactic thalidomide, placebo-treated, and normal controls, respectively (n = 10 in each group). Horizontal bars represent medians, boxes represent the 25^th and 75^th percentiles, and vertical bars represent ranges. Significant values are presented. Differences were analysed using one-way ANOVA with the Dunnett’s test for multiple comparisons. Significant differences are presented.

Figure 6 Quantitative analysis of VEGF+ cells in the colonic mucosa of the groups: untreated colitis, therapeutic- and prophylactic-thalidomide, placebo-treated, and normal controls, respectively (n = 10 in each group). Horizontal bars represent medians, boxes represent the 25^th and 75^th percentiles, and vertical bars represent ranges. Differences were analysed using one-way ANOVA with the Dunnett’s test for multiple comparisons. Significant differences are presented.

Figure 7 TNF-α production by the colonic mucosa. Levels of TNF-α are measured in supernatants of organ cultures and presented as pg/μg of tissue protein, in the groups: untreated colitis, therapeutic- and prophylactic-thalidomide, placebo-treated, and normal controls, respectively (n = 10 in each group). Horizontal bars represent medians, boxes represent the 25^th and 75^th percentiles, and vertical bars represent ranges. Differences were analysed using one-way ANOVA with the Dunnett’s test for multiple comparisons. Significant differences are presented.

Figure 8 IL-12 production by the colonic mucosa. Levels of IL-12 are measured in supernatants of organ cultures and presented as pg/μg of tissue protein, in the groups: untreated colitis, therapeutic- and prophylactic-thalidomide, placebo-treated, and normal controls, respectively (n = 10 in each group). Horizontal bars represent medians, boxes represent the 25^th and 75^th percentiles, and vertical bars represent ranges. Differences were analysed using one-way ANOVA with the Dunnett’s test for multiple comparisons. Significant differences are presented.