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Lipocortin-1 autoantibody concentration in children with inflammatory bowel disease
R M Beattie1, N J Goulding, J A Walker-Smith
1Academic department of Paediatric Gastroenterology, St Bartholomew's Hospital, London, UK.
Background:
Corticosteroids are widely used to treat children with inflammatory bowel disease although the response is variable, side-effects are common, and many patients develop a partial or complete steroid resistance. The mechanism underlying these phenomena are unclear. Corticosteroids mediate some of their actions through lipocortin-1, and the induction of autoantibodies to lipocortin has been proposed as a possible mechanism by which steroid efficacy is suboptimal in vivo.
Patients And Methods:
We have measured serum lipocortin-1 antibody concentration by ELISA in 38 children with Crohn's disease, 12 with ulcerative colitis and in 15 controls.
Results:
IgG and IgA anti-lipocortin-1 antibody levels were higher in the Crohn's group than in the ulcerative colitis or control groups. Elevated concentrations did not relate to disease activity, history of steroid therapy or steroid-responsiveness. Lipocortin IgM antibody status was similar in all three groups.
Conclusion:
It is therefore unlikely that serum antibodies to lipocortin-1 have a role in the development of steroid-resistance in children with inflammatory bowel disease.