Abstract: Objective: Using Tacr2(tachykinin receptor 2) gene knockout mice and induction of ulcerative colitis (UC) to study the influence and mechanism of Tacr2 on development of ulcerative colitis(UC). Methods Tacr2 knockout mice and wild type mice were treated with oral dextran sodium sulfate（DSS）solution for a week to induce UC, non-treated Tacr2 knockout mice and wild type mice were served as blank controls. Activity index and pathological change of colonic mucosa were studied, and the inflammation score, NF-κB expression in colonic tissue were detected. Results Tacr2 knockout mice showed higher susceptibility to DSS solution. When compared with wild type mice, Tacr2 knockout mice had a significantly decreased level of immunocompetence, presenting with decreased levels of IL-1β, TNF-α, IL-6 and NF-κB. Conclusions Tacr2 has an inhibitory effect on the development of ulcerative colitis in mice.

Key words: Ulcerative colitis, Tachykinin receptor 2, Mouse models