Related Experiment Video
Updated: Aug 4, 2026

Granulocyte-dependent Autoantibody-induced Skin Blistering
Published on: October 12, 2012
Autoimmunity to heat shock protein 40 in ulcerative colitis
1Second Department of Internal Medicine, Nagasaki University School of Medicine, Nagasaki, Japan.
Abstract:
Autoantibodies against heat shock protein 40 (HSP40) and their clinical significance in ulcerative colitis (UC) have not been evaluated before. Twenty-six tissue specimens of inflamed areas from patients with UC, 16 from patients with Crohn's disease (CD) and 16 endoscopically normal tissues were analysed for HSP40 expression. Sera from 47 patients with UC and 44 healthy volunteers were examined for the presence of autoantibodies against HSP40 by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay test. Immunohistochemistry showed that 17 out of 26 specimens from UC patients, one specimen from a CD patient and one normal tissue specimen were positive for HSP40. Most HSP40-positive cells expressed CD68. Higher titres of anti-HSP40 autoantibodies were detected in sera from UC patients compared with healthy volunteers. In patients with inactive disease, those with proctitis or left-sided colitis had higher titres of anti-HSP40 autoantibodies than those with total colitis. Our study suggests that autoimmunity against HSP40 may have a beneficial effect in UC patients by limiting the extent of the disease.
More Related Videos
08:37Induction of Murine Intestinal Inflammation by Adoptive Transfer of Effector CD4+CD45RBhigh T Cells into Immunodeficient Mice
Published on: April 21, 2015
09:44Evaluating Therapeutic Interventions in the SHIP-deficient Mouse Model of Crohn Disease-like Ileitis and Fibrosis
Published on: October 14, 2025
Related Concept Videos
Chronic Bowel Disorders: Introduction
Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS) is a common disorder affecting the gastrointestinal tract. The distinctive feature is recurrent abdominal pain associated with altered bowel movements, manifesting as constipation, diarrhea, or fluctuating between both. The...
Drugs for Treatment of Ulcerative Colitis in IBD
Inflammatory Bowel Disease I: Ulcerative Colitis
Inflammatory bowel disease, or IBD, encompasses a group of disorders characterized by chronic inflammation or ulceration of the gastrointestinal tract.
Risk Factors
The exact cause of IBD remains unclear, although it is believed to be due to a mix of genetic, environmental, microbial, and immune factors. Genetic factors are significant in determining susceptibility to IBD, with family history being a critical risk factor. Individuals with a first-degree relative who has IBD are at...
Inflammatory Bowel Disease II: Ulcerative Colitis
Inflammatory Bowel Disease III: Crohn's Disease
Inflammatory Bowel Disease IV: Clinical Manifestations