Interleukin-2 receptor alpha and beta chain expression by circulating alpha beta and gamma delta T cells in inflammatory bowel disease.
The pathogenetic role of activated alpha beta and gamma delta T cells in inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) is not well defined. To elucidate this, interleukin-2 receptor (IL-2R) alpha and IL-2R beta single chain expression and coexpression by peripheral blood TCR alpha beta + cells and TCR gamma delta + cells was studied in 21 patients with ulcerative colitis (UC), 25 with Crohn's disease (CD), and 15 controls. The percentages of IL-2R alpha + beta-, IL-2R alpha-beta +, and IL-2R alpha + beta + TCR alpha beta + cells were increased in IBD patients with moderate and severe disease activity, as compared to controls (P < 0.01). In contrast, the percentages of IL-2R alpha-beta + and IL-2R alpha + beta + TCR gamma delta + cells were increased in patients with inactive UC (P < 0.01), but not in CD. The results suggest that activated alpha beta T cells are involved in the development of IBD. The differences in gamma delta T cell IL-2R expression between inactive UC and CD may correspond to a yet undefined etiopathogenetic difference between these two diseases.
Department of Medical Gastroenterology C, Herlev Hospital, Denmark.
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I
Kirman
O H
OH
Nielsen
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E
Kjaersgaard
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J
Brynskov
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D003093:Colitis, Ulcerative / Q000209:etiology / Q000276:immunology; D003424:Crohn Disease / Q000209:etiology / Q000276:immunology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D016130:Immunophenotyping; D015212:Inflammatory Bowel Diseases / Q000209:etiology / Q000276:immunology*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D016693:Receptors, Antigen, T-Cell, alpha-beta / Q000032:analysis / Q000276:immunology*; D016692:Receptors, Antigen, T-Cell, gamma-delta / Q000032:analysis / Q000276:immunology*; D015375:Receptors, Interleukin-2 / Q000032:analysis / Q000276:immunology*; D013601:T-Lymphocytes / Q000276:immunology*
D016693:Receptors, Antigen, T-Cell, alpha-beta; D016692:Receptors, Antigen, T-Cell, gamma-delta; D015375:Receptors, Interleukin-2