Enhanced intramucosal cytotoxic lymphocyte gene expression in ulcerative colitis

A C Stevens1, M L Lipman, J E Spivack

  • 1Inflammatory Bowel Disease Center, Department of Medicine, Divisions of Gastroenterology and Immunology, Beth Israel Hospital, Boston, Massachusetts, U.S.A.

Summary

Cellular immune hyperactivity, specifically cytotoxic lymphocytes, is implicated in ulcerative colitis. This study found elevated granzyme B and perforin transcripts in ulcerative colitis lesions, suggesting increased cytotoxic lymphocyte activity.

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