The present invention is based upon methods of treating inflammatory conditions in the intestinal tract of mammals using growth factor related polypeptides. The invention includes methods of reducing the mortality rate or delaying mortality in a subject suffering from an inflammatory pathology. Methods of using fibroblast growth factor-CX (FGF-CX) polynucleotides sequences and the FGF-CX polypeptides encoded by such nucleic acid sequence, or variants, fragments and homologs thereof, are claimed in the invention. Similarly, methods of using FCTRX polynucleotide sequences and the FCTRX polypeptides encoded by such nucleic acid sequences, or variants, fragments and homologs thereof, alone or in combination, are also claimed in the invention. FCTRX collectively refers to any of six variant FCTRX sequences, variously designated FCTR1, FCTR2, FCTR3, FCTR4, FCTR5 and FCTR6.