Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jun 2, 2026

Chronic Salmonella Infection Induced Intestinal Fibrosis
Published on: September 22, 2019
Granulocyte macrophage-colony-stimulating factor autoantibodies and increased intestinal permeability in Crohn
Cade M Nylund1, Sharon D'Mello, Mi-Ok Kim
1Department of Pediatrics, Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center, University of Cincinnati College of Medicine, Cincinnati, Ohio, USA. cade.nylund@usuhs.mil
Background:
Alterations in intestinal permeability have been implicated in the pathogenesis of Crohn disease (CD). We have reported that granulocyte macrophage-colony-stimulating factor (GM-CSF) is required for mucosal barrier function in mice, and elevated neutralizing GM-CSF autoantibodies (Ab) are associated with stricturing ileal disease and surgery in patients with CD. We hypothesized that children with CD with elevated GM-CSF Ab would exhibit increased intestinal permeability.
Patients And Methods:
Subjects were divided into 3 groups: 15 with CD and high GM-CSF Ab (≥ 1.6 μg/mL, GM-CSF Ab Hi), 12 with CD and low GM-CSF Ab (<1.6 μg/mL, GM-CSF Ab Lo), and 15 healthy controls. Subjects ingested a lactulose:mannitol (L:M) solution, and urinary excretion of LM was measured by high-performance liquid chromatography. Serum GM-CSF Ab, endotoxin core Ab (EndoCAb), and lipopolysaccharide-binding protein (LBP), and fecal S100A12 were determined by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay.
Results:
The CD groups did not vary by age, sex, disease location, or activity. Neither systemic (serum LBP) nor mucosal (fecal S100A12) inflammation differed between the CD groups. Intestinal permeability as measured by the urine L:M ratio and endotoxin exposure as measured by serum EndoCAb were increased in the GM-CSF Ab Hi group compared to the GM-CSF Ab Lo group and controls.
Conclusions:
Patients with CD with elevated GM-CSF Ab exhibit an increase in bowel permeability relative to patients with CD with lower levels of GM-CSF Ab in the absence of differences in systemic or intestinal inflammation. Therapies that target the mucosal barrier may be of particular benefit in this subgroup of patients with CD.
More Related Videos
06:57Development of an Antigen-driven Colitis Model to Study Presentation of Antigens by Antigen Presenting Cells to T Cells
Published on: September 18, 2016
08:37Induction of Murine Intestinal Inflammation by Adoptive Transfer of Effector CD4+CD45RBhigh T Cells into Immunodeficient Mice
Published on: April 21, 2015
Related Concept Videos
Inflammatory Bowel Disease III: Crohn's Disease
Inflammatory Bowel Disease II: Ulcerative Colitis
Inflammatory Bowel Disease II: Crohn's Disease
Inflammatory bowel disease, commonly known as IBD, refers to a collection of disorders that lead to persistent inflammation of the gastrointestinal tract. The two types of IBD are ulcerative colitis, which impacts the colon, and Crohn's disease, which can involve any part of the gastrointestinal segment.
Crohn's disease
Crohn's disease is a chronic, systemic inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) that predominantly affects the gastrointestinal tract. It is marked by transmural...
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...
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...
Inflammatory Bowel Disease IV: Clinical Manifestations