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Altered expression of epimorphin in ulcerative colitis
Tomoyuki Shirasaka1, Masahiro Iizuka, Michihiro Yukawa
1First Department of Internal Medicine, Akita University School of Medicine, Akita, Biomedical Research and Development Department, Sumitomo Electric Industries, and Department of Surgery, Yokohama Municipal Hospital, Yokohama, Japan.
Journal of Gastroenterology and Hepatology
|April 19, 2003
Summary
Altered epimorphin expression in the colon is linked to inflammatory bowel disease (IBD). Reduced epimorphin in ulcerative colitis (UC) may impair healing and promote chronic inflammation.
Area of Science:
- Gastroenterology
- Molecular Biology
- Cell Biology
Background:
- Epimorphin is implicated in epithelial cell morphogenesis.
- Investigating epimorphin's role in inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) is crucial for understanding its pathology.
Purpose of the Study:
- To clarify the relationship between epimorphin expression and inflammatory bowel disease (IBD).
- To examine epimorphin distribution and expression in various colitis models.
Main Methods:
- Immunohistochemistry and Western blot analysis were used to assess epimorphin protein.
- Reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) analyzed epimorphin mRNA expression.
- Basic fibroblast growth factor (bFGF) distribution was also examined.
Main Results:
- Epimorphin expression around epithelial cells decreased in ulcerative colitis (UC) patients.
- Epimorphin-containing cell numbers significantly increased in active UC compared to controls and other colitis groups (P < 0.01).
- Increased bFGF was observed in active UC and Crohn's disease (CD). The 34 kDa epimorphin isoform was reduced in most UC cases.
Conclusions:
- Altered epimorphin expression is associated with impaired healing and chronic inflammation in UC colonic mucosa.
- Epimorphin may play a role in the pathogenesis of UC.