CASP9 and infectious otitis media: Furthermore, compared with N_Con group, the expression level of pro-apoptotic colonic protein Bax was significantly decreased in the M_Con group, while LPEPS oral administration increased Bax expression level (p < 0.05) in the AOM/DSS-treated mice, as shown in Figure 8C. In addition, LPEPS oral administration had significantly up-regulated expression of caspase-8, caspase-9, and caspase-3 proteins compared with M_Con group (Figure 8D–F).