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Published on: May 5, 2017
Flow cytometric analysis of peripheral blood lymphocytes in ulcerative colitis and Crohn's disease
M Senju1, F Hulstaert, J Lowder
1Gastroenterology Unit, Radcliffe Infirmary, Oxford, UK.
Insights
This study found distinct B cell subset differences in patients with inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), suggesting local B cell activation in the colon. T cell activation was noted in Crohn's disease but not in ulcerative colitis.
Area of Science:
- Immunology
- Gastroenterology
- Cell Biology
Background:
- Inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), encompassing ulcerative colitis and Crohn's disease, involves complex immune dysregulation.
- Understanding lymphocyte subset alterations is crucial for elucidating IBD pathogenesis.
- Previous research indicates immune cell involvement, but specific B cell subset changes require further investigation.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the antigenic characteristics of peripheral blood lymphocytes in patients with ulcerative colitis and Crohn's disease.
- To compare lymphocyte profiles between IBD patients and healthy controls.
- To explore potential correlations between lymphocyte subset changes and disease activity or location.
Main Methods:
- Multi-parameter flow cytometry was employed to analyze peripheral blood lymphocytes.
- Two-color immunofluorescence using fluorescein isothiocyanate and phycoerythrin-labeled monoclonal antibodies was utilized.
- Analysis included CD4+, CD8+, CD3+, CD25+, CD16+, and various B cell subsets (Leu-1+, Leu-8+, Fc epsilon R+, Leu-12+, Leu-21+).
Main Results:
- CD4+ and CD8+ T cell counts and the CD4/CD8 ratio were similar between IBD patients and controls.
- Activated T cells (CD3+, CD25+) were elevated in Crohn's disease patients.
- Significant differences were observed in B cell subsets, including Leu-1+, Leu-8+, Fc epsilon R+, and activated B cells, between IBD patients and controls.
Conclusions:
- While T cell profiles showed limited changes (except for activated T cells in Crohn's disease), B cell subset alterations suggest a role for B cells in IBD.
- The observed B cell subset differences are consistent with local B cell activation within the inflamed colon.
- These findings contribute to understanding the immunopathology of inflammatory bowel diseases.
Abstract:
Using two colour immunofluorescence with fluorescein isothiocyanate and phycoerythrin labelled monoclonal antibodies, multi-parameter flow cytometry was used to examine the antigenic characteristics of peripheral blood lymphocytes in whole blood of patients with ulcerative colitis and Crohn's disease who were not taking immunosuppressive drugs. The numbers of CD4+ and CD8+ lymphocytes in patients with ulcerative colitis and Crohn's disease remained unchanged so that the CD4/CD8 ratio was the same as that of normal control subjects. In Crohn's disease there were many activated T cells (CD3+, CD25+). Although natural killer cells in active Crohn's disease were lower than in normal control subjects, cytotoxic T lymphocytes, as defined by CD3+, CD16+, did not differ in patients with inflammatory bowel disease compared with normal control subjects. For B cell subsets, there were differences in Leu-1+ B cells, Leu-8+ B cells, Fc epsilon R+B cells (Leu-16+, Leu-20+), and activated B cells (Leu-12+, Leu-21+) between patients with inflammatory bowel disease and normal control subjects. These differences are compatible with local activation of B cells in the inflamed colon.
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