Crohn's disease, ulcerative colitis, and normal intestinal lymphocytes express integrins in dissimilar patterns.
OBJECTIVE
The integrin family of adhesion molecules on intestinal lamina propria mononuclear cells (LPMNC) was studied using fluorescence-activated cell cytometry. These molecules are implicated in extravascular cell migration and are important regulators of disease.


METHODS
Using fluorescence-activated cell cytometry, B- and T-cell subsets in the intestines of 10 normal patients, 11 patients with Crohn's disease, and 8 patients with ulcerative colitis were stained with monoclonal antibodies to a panel of integrins.


RESULTS
Expression of alpha integrins on CD3+ T cells and CD19+ B cells was different in normal and inflammatory bowel disease LPMNC. Ulcerative colitis T cells expressed less beta 1 and alpha 4 and significantly more alpha 2 and alpha 6. There was a difference in alpha 4 and beta 1 expression between LPMNC B cells from Crohn's disease and normal intestines. Sixteen percent of CD19+ LPMNC B cells from Crohn's and 19% of ulcerative colitis LPMNC expressed alpha 2. Crohn's and ulcerative colitis CD19+ LPMNC B cells expressed more alpha 5 integrin than normal specimens. CD3+ T cells and CD19+ B cells expressed alpha 6 only in ulcerative colitis. Ulcerative colitis and Crohn's disease CD19+ LPMNC expressed less alpha 4, consistent with their reciprocal increases of alpha 5 and alpha 2. A difference in beta 7 (Peyer's patch specific) antigen was observed between inflammatory bowel disease and normal LPMNC for both CD3+ and CD19+ LPMNC.


CONCLUSIONS
These findings identify the differences of lymphocyte homing capability in inflammatory bowel disease and normal intestine.
Yacyshyn
B R
BR
Department of Medicine, University of Alberta, Edmonton, Canada.
Lazarovits
A
A
Tsai
V
V
Matejko
K
K
D015703:Antigens, CD / Q000032:analysis; D018941:Antigens, CD19; D000944:Antigens, Differentiation, B-Lymphocyte / Q000032:analysis; D001402:B-Lymphocytes / Q000276:immunology; D017252:CD3 Complex / Q000032:analysis; D003093:Colitis, Ulcerative / Q000276:immunology*; D003424:Crohn Disease / Q000276:immunology*; D005434:Flow Cytometry; D006801:Humans; D019012:Integrin beta1; D016023:Integrins / Q000378:metabolism*; D007413:Intestinal Mucosa / Q000166:cytology / Q000276:immunology; D007422:Intestines / Q000166:cytology* / Q000276:immunology; D008214:Lymphocytes / Q000276:immunology*; D013601:T-Lymphocytes / Q000276:immunology
D015703:Antigens, CD; D018941:Antigens, CD19; D000944:Antigens, Differentiation, B-Lymphocyte; D017252:CD3 Complex; D019012:Integrin beta1; D016023:Integrins