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Updated: May 13, 2026
Isolation and Flow Cytometric Characterization of Murine Small Intestinal Lymphocytes
Published on: May 8, 2016
Immunohistochemical characterization of lymphocytes in microscopic colitis
C Göranzon1, A K Kumawat, E Hultgren-Hörnqvist
1Dept. of Medicine, Division of Gastroenterology, Örebro University Hospital, Sweden.
Insights
Microscopic colitis involves increased CD8(+) lymphocytes in the gut lining. Researchers found more activated immune cells but fewer CD4(+) cells in the lamina propria of patients with collagenous colitis and lymphocytic colitis.
Area of Science:
- Gastroenterology
- Immunology
- Pathology
Background:
- Microscopic colitis (MC), including collagenous colitis (CC) and lymphocytic colitis (LC), presents with normal-appearing colonic mucosa but increased intraepithelial lymphocytes (IELs) and lamina propria (LP) inflammation.
- CC is further characterized by an thickened collagen layer in the LP.
Purpose of the Study:
- To characterize the specific inflammatory cells contributing to mucosal inflammation in MC using immunohistochemistry.
- To differentiate immune cell profiles in the colonic mucosa of untreated MC patients compared to controls.
Main Methods:
- Immunohistochemistry was performed on colonic biopsies from 23 MC patients (13 CC, 10 LC) and 17 controls.
- Antibodies targeting CD3, CD4, CD8, CD20, CD30, Foxp3, CD45RO, and Ki67 were used.
- Computerized image analysis quantified stained lymphocyte areas in the epithelium and LP.
Main Results:
- Both CC and LC showed a significant increase in CD8(+) lymphocytes in the epithelium and LP.
- A decrease in CD4(+) lymphocytes was observed in the LP of MC patients.
- Increased CD45RO(+) (memory T cells), Foxp3(+) (regulatory T cells), and CD20(+) (B cells) were found in MC patients compared to controls.
- Epithelial Ki67(+) (proliferation marker) and LP CD30(+) (activation marker) were also elevated in MC patients.
Conclusions:
- The study confirms a prominent role of CD8(+) lymphocytes in the epithelial infiltrate of MC.
- Increased lymphocytic proliferation and activation markers suggest an ongoing immune response in MC.
- The reduction in CD4(+) lymphocytes in the LP warrants further investigation into the underlying pathomechanisms of MC.
Background And Aims:
Microscopic colitis (MC), encompassing the subgroups collagenous colitis (CC) and lymphocytic colitis (LC), is characterized by macroscopically normal or near-normal colonic mucosa, and an increased number of intraepithelial lymphocytes (IELs) and mononuclear cell infiltration in the underlying lamina propria (LP), in addition to an increased collagen layer in CC. This study aimed to characterize the inflammatory cells involved in mucosal inflammation, using immunohistochemistry.
Methods:
Paraffin-embedded biopsies from 23 untreated patients with MC (CC=13, LC=10) and 17 controls were stained with antibodies against CD3, CD4, CD8, CD20, CD30, Foxp3, CD45RO and Ki67. Computerized image analysis was used to calculate areas of stained lymphocytes in the surface and crypt epithelia as well as in the LP.
Results:
In CC and LC, an increase of predominantly CD8(+) lymphocytes was seen in both the epithelium and the lamina propria, whereas a decreased amount of CD4(+) lymphocytes was found in the lamina propria. CD45RO(+) and Foxp3(+) cells were more abundant in all areas in both patient groups compared to controls, as were CD20(+) areas, although more scarce. Ki67(+) areas were only more abundant in the epithelium, whereas CD30(+) areas were more abundant in the lamina propria of both patient groups compared to controls.
Conclusions:
This study confirms an increased amount of CD8(+) lymphocytes in the epithelium. Lymphocytic proliferation and activation markers were more abundant, whereas a decreased amount of CD4(+) lymphocytes was seen in the LP. Further studies are needed to reveal the underlying mechanism(s).
