RNA-seq of whole-blood clots from DSS-induced colitis mice treated with Shear-Labile Interaction Polymers (SLIPs)

This experiment investigates transcriptional changes in whole blood during the recovery phase of dextran sulfate sodium (DSS)-induced colitis in mice, with or without treatment by synthetic mucin polymers (Shear-Labile Interaction Polymers, SLIPs). DSS (2.5% w/v) was administered for four days to induce acute epithelial injury, followed by four days of recovery in which mice received either water (control) or SLIPs (6.66 mg/mL) in drinking water. Whole-blood clots were collected on day 8 and processed for RNA extraction using a modified TRIzol LS protocol adapted for frozen clots. Libraries were prepared and sequenced on an Illumina NovaSeq 6000 platform (paired-end 150 bp). Differential expression analysis compared SLIP-treated and untreated groups to identify genes involved in immune regulation, redox balance, and epithelial recovery following colitis.