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Fluorescence-mediated Tomography for the Detection and Quantification of Macrophage-related Murine Intestinal Inflammation
Published on: December 15, 2017
Immunohistochemical and morphometric analysis of intestinal full-thickness biopsy samples from cats with
S Marsilio1, S Kleinschmidt1, I Nolte2
1Department of Pathology, University of Veterinary Medicine Hannover, Hannover, Germany.
Insights
Inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) in cats alters immune cell distribution in the small intestine. Specifically, CD3(+) T cells and IgA(+) plasma cells increase in the duodenum and jejunum of IBD cats.
Area of Science:
- Veterinary Pathology
- Immunohistochemistry
- Gastroenterology
Background:
- Inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) is a common gastrointestinal disorder in cats.
- Understanding immune cell populations in feline IBD is crucial for diagnosis and treatment.
- Previous studies have shown variations in immune cell infiltrates in feline IBD.
Purpose of the Study:
- To analyze the distribution and numbers of specific immune cells (CD3(+) T lymphocytes, immunoglobulin(+) plasma cells, L1(+) macrophages) in the intestines of cats with IBD.
- To compare these cell counts with those from healthy control cats.
- To investigate potential discrepancies with previous findings in feline IBD research.
Main Methods:
- Full-thickness intestinal biopsy samples (duodenum, jejunum, ileum, colon) were collected from cats with IBD and healthy controls.
- Immunohistochemistry was used to identify and quantify CD3(+) T cells, IgA(+), IgG(+), IgM(+) plasma cells, and L1(+) macrophages.
- Computer-aided morphometry was employed for cell counting in the lamina propria.
Main Results:
- Cats with IBD showed increased CD3(+) T cells in the duodenum and jejunum (significant in duodenum).
- Significantly more IgA(+) cells were found in the duodenal crypt region and IgG(+) cells in the lower jejunal crypt region of IBD cats.
- L1(+) macrophages were significantly decreased in the colon crypts of IBD cats, with a trend towards decrease in the duodenum and jejunum.
Conclusions:
- Feline IBD is characterized by specific alterations in intestinal immune cell populations, particularly T cells and plasma cells.
- Differences in biopsy type, control populations, and methodology may explain variations in findings across studies.
- Further research is needed to clarify the role of these immune cells in feline IBD pathogenesis.
Abstract:
The distribution and numbers of CD3(+) T lymphocytes, immunoglobulin(+) plasma cells and calprotectin (L1)(+) macrophages was analyzed in full-thickness, formalin-fixed biopsy samples from the small intestine (duodenum, jejunum and ileum) and from the colon from nine cats with clinical signs of inflammatory bowel disease (IBD). All animals had lymphoplasmacytic enteritis or lymphoplasmacytic enterocolitis. Equivalent samples from the same intestinal regions from 12 healthy pet cats served as controls. Labelled cells in the lamina propria were counted by computer-aided morphometry. The different cell types were similarly distributed in both groups, but there were differences in their numbers. There were more CD3(+) T cells in the duodenum and jejunum of cats with IBD; however, the difference was only significant for the duodenum. There were significantly more IgA(+) cells in the duodenal crypt region. There were significantly more IgG(+) cells in the lower jejunal crypt region. Plasma cells expressing IgM were decreased in cats with IBD, but the difference was not significant. L1(+) macrophages were significantly decreased in the lower crypt area of the colon in cats with IBD and there was a trend to decreased L1(+) cells in the upper crypt area of the duodenum and jejunum. Comparison of the results of this study with previous findings on endoscopically-obtained duodenal biopsy samples from cats with IBD revealed some differences. These discrepancies might relate to differences between control cat populations, types of biopsy samples, methodological factors such as different counting techniques and the activity of the disease at the time of sampling.
