Interferon expression in Crohn's disease patients: increased interferon-gamma and -alpha mRNA in the intestinal lamina propria mononuclear cells.
The in vivo interferon (IFN) activation in Crohn's disease was evaluated by measuring the relative amounts of IFN-alpha and -gamma mRNA in freshly isolated human lamina propria mononuclear cells (LPMC) from patients with Crohn's disease and controls. Both IFN-gamma and IFN-alpha mRNA, as estimated by dot blot analysis, were increased in Crohn's disease (LPMC), although the relative amounts of IFN mRNA appeared to differ among patients. Appreciable amounts of IFN-gamma mRNA were found in Crohn's disease peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC) extracts, whereas the same cells were negative for IFN-alpha mRNA. Only minute amounts of IFN-gamma RNA were found sporadically in control LPMC while no IFN-alpha was detected. Control PBMC were shown to be virtually negative for both IFN-alpha and IFN-gamma mRNA. These data suggest that IFN induction in the normal human gut is a well-controlled function and that in Crohn's disease tissues, both IFN-gamma and IFN-alpha production are dysregulated. The increased IFN activity may represent a major feature in the induction and perpetuation of the chronic inflammatory process in Crohn's disease.
Fais
S
S
Istituto di Virologia, Università degli Studi di Roma La Sapienza, Italy.
Capobianchi
M R
MR
Silvestri
M
M
Mercuri
F
F
Pallone
F
F
Dianzani
F
F
D003424:Crohn Disease / Q000378:metabolism*; D005069:Evaluation Studies as Topic; D006801:Humans; D016898:Interferon-alpha / Q000235:genetics*; D007371:Interferon-gamma / Q000235:genetics*; D007413:Intestinal Mucosa / Q000166:cytology / Q000378:metabolism*; D007963:Leukocytes, Mononuclear / Q000378:metabolism*; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000096:biosynthesis*
D016898:Interferon-alpha; D012333:RNA, Messenger; D007371:Interferon-gamma