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Interleukin 12 is expressed and actively released by Crohn's disease intestinal lamina propria mononuclear cells

G Monteleone1, L Biancone, R Marasco

  • 1Dipartimento di Medicina Sperimentale e Clinica, Università di Reggio Calabria, Catanzaro, Italy.

Gastroenterology
|April 1, 1997
PubMed

Insights

Crohn's disease (CD) patients show increased expression of interleukin (IL)-12 in intestinal cells. This bioactive IL-12 release is significantly higher in CD compared to ulcerative colitis (UC), suggesting it differentiates the two conditions.

Area of Science:

  • Immunology
  • Gastroenterology
  • Molecular Biology

Background:

  • Cell-mediated immunity is a hallmark of Crohn's disease (CD).
  • Interleukin (IL)-12, a cytokine produced by phagocytes, stimulates T-cell production of interferon (IFN)-gamma.
  • The role of IL-12 in CD pathogenesis requires further investigation.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To determine if lamina propria mononuclear cells (LPMCs) from CD patients express and release bioactive IL-12.
  • To compare IL-12 expression and release in CD LPMCs versus those from ulcerative colitis (UC) patients and healthy controls.

Main Methods:

  • Isolation of LPMCs from CD patients, UC patients, and controls.
  • Detection of IL-12 subunit mRNA using reverse-transcription polymerase chain reaction.
  • Quantification of bioactive IL-12 in LPMC supernatants via enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA).

Main Results:

  • IL-12 mRNA transcripts were significantly more prevalent in LPMCs from CD patients (11/13) compared to UC (1/9) and controls (1/13).
  • Bioactive IL-12 was detected in unstimulated CD LPMC supernatants and its release was enhanced by mitogens.
  • Significant IL-12 production was largely absent in unstimulated UC and control LPMCs, with lower induced levels in UC compared to CD.

Conclusions:

  • Intestinal tissues in CD exhibit IL-12 gene expression.
  • LPMCs from CD patients demonstrate an augmented capacity for releasing bioactive IL-12.
  • The differential expression and release of bioactive IL-12 may serve as a distinguishing factor between CD and UC.
Abstract

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