DSS-Induced Colitis in Mice

To induce colitis, mice were given 2.5% (w/v) DSS (MP Biomedicals) in the drinking water for 6 days, and then switched to regular drinking water until the end of the experiment. Mice were weighed every day to determine percentage body weight changes. Colonoscopy was used to monitor and score the colitis. Colonoscopy was performed in a blinded fashion using the Coloview system (Karl Storz, Germany).^{65 (link)} Briefly, colitis score was addressed considering the consistence of stools, granularity of the mucosal surface, translucency of the colon, fibrin deposit and vascularization of the mucosa (0–3 points for each parameter). After sacrifice of the mice, colon length was measured and colon tissue samples were collected for histology. For IL-18BP level analysis in Fig. 3q, harvested colon tissues were homogenated and the IL-18BP levels in colon homogenates were measured using the Mouse interleukin-18 binding protein (IL-18BP) ELISA Kit (CUSABIO, Cat# CSB-E17797m)