Raised pro-inflammatory cytokines interleukin 6 and tumour necrosis factor alpha in coeliac disease mucosa detected by immunohistochemistry.
The levels of two pro-inflammatory cytokines, interleukin 6 (IL-6) and tumour necrosis factor alpha (TNF-alpha), in coeliac disease were studied by immunohistochemistry. Jejunal biopsy specimens from patients with untreated disease, (n = 11), treated disease (n = 9), and normal controls, (n = 11) were stained to detect IL-6, TNF-alpha, CD45 (pan-leukocyte), and CD68 (macrophage surface antigen). Positive cells were identified in the epithelium (per 100 enterocytes) and in the lamina propria (per unit area). There was a significant increase in median IL-6 and TNF-alpha staining in both the lamina propria and the epithelium of untreated coeliac disease patients (lamina propria, 16.2 and 13.0 respectively; epithelium, 0.86 and 1.21, all p < 0.05) when compared with treated coeliac disease patients (lamina propria; 6.0 and 6.2, epithelium; 0.60 and 0.60) and controls (lamina propria; 6.5 and 7.5, epithelium; 0.58 and 0.60). A significant increase in the number of CD45 positive cells was found in the untreated coeliac disease lamina propria and epithelium (p < 0.05) but this was accompanied by a significant rise in CD68 positive cells in the lamina propria only (p < 0.05). Increased IL-6 and TNF-alpha in the lamina propria and epithelium of patients with untreated coeliac disease further supports their role in the immune pathogenesis of this disorder.
Gastroenterology Unit UMDS, St Thomas's Hospital, London.
R T
RT
Przemioslo
M
M
Kontakou
V
V
Nobili
P J
PJ
Ciclitira
D000328:Adult; D015703:Antigens, CD / Q000032:analysis; D015214:Antigens, Differentiation, Myelomonocytic / Q000032:analysis; D002446:Celiac Disease / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000276:immunology*; D004848:Epithelium / Q000276:immunology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D015850:Interleukin-6 / Q000032:analysis*; D007413:Intestinal Mucosa / Q000276:immunology*; D007583:Jejunum / Q000276:immunology*; D017493:Leukocyte Common Antigens / Q000032:analysis; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha / Q000032:analysis*; D000097382:CD68 Molecule
D015703:Antigens, CD; D015214:Antigens, Differentiation, Myelomonocytic; D015850:Interleukin-6; D017493:Leukocyte Common Antigens; D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha; C067980:CD68 antigen, human; D000097382:CD68 Molecule