title: Bioluminescence imaging for IL-1β expression in experimental colitis.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Interleukin 1 beta (IL-1β) contributes to the development of inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) and is correlated with the severity of intestinal inflammation. However, the precise source of IL-1β producing cells in DSS colitis is currently not known.
  
  
  METHODS
  To determine IL-1β activity during intestinal inflammation in real time, an IL-1β transgenic mouse has been generated by incorporating the firefly luciferase gene driven by a 4.5-kb fragment of human IL-1β gene promoter (named cHS4I-hIL-1βP-Luc transgenic mice). Dextran sodium sulfate (DSS) induced colitis was confirmed with clinical presentation and histopathology.
  
  
  RESULTS
  A substantial increase in luciferase activity (reflecting IL-1β production) in the region of inflamed colon was observed in a time dependent manner, followed by additional activity in the region of the mesenteric lymph node. The up-regulated luciferase activity was suppressed by dexamethasone (steroids) during DSS challenge, consistent with reduced severity of colitis, confirming the specificity of luciferase activity.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Our data suggests that bioluminescence is an interesting technology, which may be used to evaluate transcription of various genes in real time in experimental colitis.
authors.affiliation: Shanghai Research Centre for Model Organisms, Shanghai 201203, PR China.|State Key Laboratory of Cell Biology, Institute of Biochemistry and Cell biology, Shanghai Institutes for Biological Sciences, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai, 200031, PR China.|Currently working at: State Key Laboratory of Cell Biology, Institute of Biochemistry and Cell biology, Shanghai Institutes for Biological Sciences, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai, 200031, PR China.
authors.forename: Limei
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Li
authors.affiliation: School of Life Science and Technology, Tongji University, Shanghai 200092, PR China.
authors.forename: Zhenzhe
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Liu
authors.affiliation: School of Life Science and Technology, Tongji University, Shanghai 200092, PR China.
authors.forename: Xinyu
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Yang
authors.affiliation: Shanghai Research Centre for Model Organisms, Shanghai 201203, PR China.
authors.forename: Huimin
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Yan
authors.affiliation: School of Life Science and Technology, Tongji University, Shanghai 200092, PR China.|Discipline of Pathology and Bosch Institute, School of Medical Sciences, University of Sydney, Sydney, NSW, 2006, Australia.
authors.forename: Shisan
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Bao
authors.affiliation: School of Life Science and Technology, Tongji University, Shanghai 200092, PR China.|Shanghai Research Centre for Model Organisms, Shanghai 201203, PR China.
authors.forename: Jian
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Fei