Intraepithelial and lamina propria leucocyte subsets in inflammatory bowel disease: an immunohistochemical study of colon and rectal biopsy specimens.
OBJECTIVE
To gain new insights into the pathogenesis and differential diagnosis of ulcerative colitis and colonic Crohn's disease.


METHODS
Immunohistochemistry for different leucocyte subsets was performed in biopsy specimens of the sigmoid colon and rectum from 55 patients with inflammatory bowel disease and 11 healthy controls.


RESULTS
Colonic biopsy specimens from patients with active ulcerative colitis had significantly higher numbers of CD45+ and CD3+ leucocytes compared with those from patients with inactive disease, and higher numbers of total leucocytes and macrophages than those from patients with Crohn's disease. Rectal biopsy specimens from patients with Crohn's disease had greater numbers of intraepithelial leucocytes (CD45, CD3 and CD8 cells) than specimens from patients with active or inactive ulcerative colitis, or from healthy controls.


CONCLUSIONS
Because of the phenotypic differences in the inflammatory infiltrate in the mucosa from the sigmoid colon and the rectum, the segment of the intestine to be biopsied should be specified. Assessment of the leucocytic component of the intraepithelial infiltrate in rectal biopsy specimens was more useful than examination of colonic biopsy specimens in the differential diagnosis of ulcerative colitis and Crohn's disease.
Caballero
T
T
Department of Pathology, University Hospital, School of Medicine, University of Granada, Spain.
Nogueras
F
F
Medina
M T
MT
Caracuel
M D
MD
de Sola
C
C
Martínez-Salmerón
F J
FJ
Rodrigo
M
M
García del Moral
R
R
D000328:Adult; D015703:Antigens, CD; D015214:Antigens, Differentiation, Myelomonocytic; D016827:CD8 Antigens; D003093:Colitis, Ulcerative / Q000473:pathology*; D012809:Colon, Sigmoid / Q000473:pathology*; D003424:Crohn Disease / Q000473:pathology*; D003937:Diagnosis, Differential; D006801:Humans; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D007413:Intestinal Mucosa / Q000473:pathology; D007694:Killer Cells, Natural; D017493:Leukocyte Common Antigens; D007962:Leukocytes / Q000473:pathology*; D018655:Lymphocyte Count; D008875:Middle Aged; D012007:Rectum / Q000473:pathology*; D016176:T-Lymphocyte Subsets / Q000473:pathology; D000097382:CD68 Molecule
D015703:Antigens, CD; D015214:Antigens, Differentiation, Myelomonocytic; D016827:CD8 Antigens; D017493:Leukocyte Common Antigens; C067980:CD68 antigen, human; D000097382:CD68 Molecule