Related Experiment Videos
Study of cytokines in ulcerative colitis
K Funakoshi1, K Sugimura, T Sasakawa
1Third Department of Internal Medicine, Niigata University, School of Medicine, Japan.
Journal of Gastroenterology
|November 1, 1995
Summary
Investigating ulcerative colitis (UC) mucosa revealed increased activated T cells and specific inflammatory cytokines, including IL-1 beta, IL-6, and TNF alpha, suggesting their role in UC pathogenesis.
Area of Science:
- Gastroenterology
- Immunology
- Molecular Biology
Background:
- Ulcerative colitis (UC) is an inflammatory bowel disease.
- The role of lymphocyte activation and cytokine expression in UC pathogenesis requires further elucidation.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate lymphocyte-activation antigens and cytokine gene expression in the colonic mucosa of ulcerative colitis patients.
Main Methods:
- Immunohistochemistry was used to study CD4, HLA-DR, and CD25 expression in colonic mucosal biopsies.
- Reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) was employed for cytokine mRNA analysis.
Main Results:
- Active UC mucosa showed increased CD4+DR+ and CD25+ cells, indicating CD4(+) T cell activation.
- Significantly elevated mRNA levels of IL-1 beta, IL-2R alpha, IL-6, IL-8, and TNF alpha were observed in active UC compared to controls.
- No significant differences in mRNA expression for IL-2, IL-4, IL-10, and IFN-gamma were found between active UC and controls.
Conclusions:
- Increased CD4+DR+ and CD25+ cells suggest mucosal T cell activation in UC.
- Elevated mRNA expression of IL-1 beta, IL-6, and TNF alpha indicates their potential involvement in UC pathogenesis.