Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jul 9, 2026

Injections of Lipopolysaccharide into Mice to Mimic Entrance of Microbial-derived Products After Intestinal Barrier Breach
Published on: May 2, 2018
Inflammatory bowel disease is associated with increased mucosal levels of bactericidal/permeability-increasing
H Monajemi1, J Meenan, R Lamping
1Department of Haemostasis, Inflammtion, Atherosclerosis, and Thrombosis, Academic Medical Centre, University of Amsterdam, The Netherlands.
Background & Aims:
Clinical sepsis seldom accompanies inflammatory bowel disease. The aim of this study was to measure colonic mucosal levels of the neutrophil product bactericidal/permeability-increasing protein (BPI), which kills gram-negative bacteria in addition to inactivating endotoxin.
Methods:
Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay and immunohistochemistry for BPI were performed on homogenates and tissue secretions of biopsy specimens from patients with ulcerative colitis (n=11) and Crohn's disease (n=5) and from normal controls (n=5).
Results:
Mucosal neutrophil content (144 +/- 23 vs. 35 +/- 9 neutrophils/mg protein; P<0.007) and BPI content (2.07 +/- 0.75 vs. 0.12 +/- 0.02 ng/mg protein; P<0.002) were greater in the colitis groups and correlated closely (r=0.68; P<0.001). This relationship held for both ulcerative colitis (P<0.002) and Crohn's disease (P<0.01) with a trend towards greater levels in Crohn's disease. There was a trend towards higher BPI levels with an increasing endoscopic inflammation score (grade I, 1.32 +/- 0.6 ng/mg protein; grade II, 2.82 +/- 1.4 ng/mg protein). Immunohistochemistry and the biopsy culture showed BPI to be both intracellular and extracellular, to be present in the crypt lumen, and to be released into incubating medium.
Conclusions:
Mucosal levels of BPI are increased in colitis. Such localization may ameliorate mucosal responses to gram-negative bacteria and their products.
More Related Videos
07:32An Intravital Microscopy-Based Approach to Assess Intestinal Permeability and Epithelial Cell Shedding Performance
Published on: December 3, 2020
09:24Functional Assessment of Intestinal Permeability and Neutrophil Transepithelial Migration in Mice using a Standardized Intestinal Loop Model
Published on: February 11, 2021
Related Concept Videos
Pathophysiology of Peptic Ulcer Disease: Mucosal Defense Factors
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: 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...
Dysbiosis of the Gut Microbiota
Inflammatory Bowel Disease II: Ulcerative Colitis
Inflammatory Bowel Disease III: Crohn's Disease