Tumor necrosis factor-alpha, interleukin-1 beta, and interleukin-6 expression in inflammatory bowel disease.
The etiology of ulcerative colitis (UC) and Crohn's disease (CD) remains enigmatic. Infiltrating intestinal macrophages are capable of producing the proinflammatory cytokines tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-alpha), interleukin-1 beta (IL-1 beta), and interleukin-6 (IL-6). We investigated the presence of IL-6, TNF-alpha and IL-1 beta mRNA transcripts in inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), normal, and other inflammatory intestinal specimens utilizing the polymerase chain reaction (PCR). TNF-alpha mRNA levels did not very between inflammatory bowel disease and control specimens. IL-1 beta mRNA levels were highest in active UC and noninflammatory bowel disease inflammatory specimens while IL-6 mRNA levels were highest in active IBD specimens. Infiltrating T cells, macrophages, and B cells were identified as sources of IL-6 protein in inflammatory bowel disease specimens by immunofluorescent staining. IL-6 transcripts were elevated only in active inflammatory bowel disease specimens, suggesting that IL-6-mediated immune processes are ongoing in the inflammatory mucosal environment of CD and UC.
Stevens
C
C
Department of Medicine, Beth Israel Hospital, Boston, Massachusetts 02215.
Walz
G
G
Singaram
C
C
Lipman
M L
ML
Zanker
B
B
Muggia
A
A
Antonioli
D
D
Peppercorn
M A
MA
Strom
T B
TB
D001402:B-Lymphocytes / Q000378:metabolism; D015152:Blotting, Northern; D003093:Colitis, Ulcerative / Q000235:genetics*; D003424:Crohn Disease / Q000235:genetics*; D005455:Fluorescent Antibody Technique; D015870:Gene Expression / Q000235:genetics*; D006801:Humans; D007375:Interleukin-1 / Q000235:genetics*; D015850:Interleukin-6 / Q000235:genetics*; D007413:Intestinal Mucosa / Q000737:chemistry; D008264:Macrophages / Q000378:metabolism; D016133:Polymerase Chain Reaction; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000032:analysis*; D013601:T-Lymphocytes / Q000378:metabolism; D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha / Q000235:genetics*
D007375:Interleukin-1; D015850:Interleukin-6; D012333:RNA, Messenger; D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha