Mucosal interleukin-6 secretion in ulcerative colitis. Effects of anti-inflammatory drugs and T-cell stimulation.
BACKGROUND
We have studied modulation of mucosal interleukin-6 (IL-6) secretion by T-cell activation and by anti-inflammatory agents in inflammatory bowel disease.


METHODS
In vitro secretion of IL-6 by biopsy specimens from patients with active ulcerative colitis was investigated in the presence of cyclosporin-A (CsA) and drugs that have other anti-inflammatory actions. Biopsy specimens from patients with quiescent ulcerative colitis or controls were stimulated with anti-CD3 antibody to activate mucosal T cells.


RESULTS
Stimulation of control specimens increased IL-6 secretion (median increase, 147%; p < 0.003), which was prevented by CsA. In quiescent ulcerative colitis there was enhanced spontaneous secretion of IL-6 but a smaller, non-significant increase after T-cell activation (125%). Dexamethasone inhibited secretion in active ulcerative colitis (p < 0.006). 5-Aminosalicylic acid, 6-mercaptopurine, methotrexate, and indomethacin had no effect. There also tended to be a small reduction with CsA, but this just failed to reach statistical significance.


CONCLUSIONS
In quiescent ulcerative colitis the enhanced spontaneous secretion of IL-6 may be a consequence of mucosal T-cell or macrophage activation: the smaller increase after T-cell stimulation suggests that one or both of these two cell types are already pre-activated.
Centre for Digestive Diseases, General Infirmary, Leeds, UK.
S C
SC
Jones
J E
JE
Crabtree
B J
BJ
Rembacken
M F
MF
Dixon
L K
LK
Trejdosiewicz
J T
JT
Whicher
A T
AT
Axon
D000893:Anti-Inflammatory Agents / Q000494:pharmacology*; D001706:Biopsy; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D003093:Colitis, Ulcerative / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology; D016572:Cyclosporine / Q000494:pharmacology; D004797:Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay; D006801:Humans; D066298:In Vitro Techniques; D015850:Interleukin-6 / Q000378:metabolism*; D007413:Intestinal Mucosa / Q000187:drug effects / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism*; D008213:Lymphocyte Activation / Q000276:immunology; D013601:T-Lymphocytes / Q000276:immunology*
D000893:Anti-Inflammatory Agents; D015850:Interleukin-6; D016572:Cyclosporine