BMP7 and colitis: Although we detected increased expression of the M2 marker CD163 in the inflamed mucosa and submucosa of colonic samples in the colitis, Dex, and BMP7 groups, the number of CD163-positive cells was markedly lower in the BMP7 group than in the colitis group, implying that BMP7 did not significantly direct the differentiation of macrophages into the alternatively activated M2 population.