Clinical Scoring of Disease

Mice were weighed daily, and the occurrence of diarrhea and bleeding were recorded. Scores were evaluated based on weight loss, stool type, and bleeding (Table ​Table11) as described by Sann et al. (2013). Briefly, weight loss was scored as 0 (< 2%), 1 (≥ 2%– < 5%), 2 (≥ 5%– < 10%), 3 (≥ 10%– < 15%) or 4 (≥ 15%); stool was scored as 0 (normal), 1 (softer stool), 2 (moderate diarrhea), or 3 (diarrhea); and bleeding was scored as 0 (no rectal bleeding), 1 (weak hemoccult), 2 (blood in stool), or 3 (fresh rectal bleeding). The summed scores for weight loss, diarrhea, and bleeding were used as the clinical disease score [disease activity index (DAI)]. All scores were assessed by an independent observer blinded to the treatment.

Assessment of the DAI.