Monocyte aggregation and multinucleated giant-cell formation in vitro in Crohn's disease. The effect of cell adhesion molecules.
BACKGROUND
Multinucleated giant-cell (MGC) formation is a common histopathologic feature of various granulomatous diseases, including Crohn's disease (CD).


METHODS
We have investigated monocyte aggregation and subsequent MGC formation by in vitro culturing peripheral monocytes from 25 CD patients, 15 ulcerative colitis (UC) patients, and 10 healthy controls. The effect of cell adhesion molecules on the monocyte aggregation and MGC formation in CD patients was investigated by using anti-beta 2 integrin and anti-ICAM-1 antibodies.


RESULTS
The monocyte aggregation and MGC formation were significantly higher in CD than those seen in UC and controls (p < 0.05). In CD, antibody to beta 2 integrin could inhibit not only the monocyte aggregation but also the subsequent MGC formation. In contrast, the antibody to ICAM-1 could inhibit the monocyte aggregation; however, it could not inhibit the MGC formation.


CONCLUSIONS
Monocyte aggregation and MGC formation are increased in CD. beta 2 Integrin may play an important role in the monocyte aggregation and MGC formation of CD patients.
Liu
Z X
ZX
Third Dept. of Internal Medicine, Tohoku University School of Medicine, Sendai, Japan.
Noguchi
M
M
Hiwatashi
N
N
Toyota
T
T
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal; D018821:CD18 Antigens / Q000276:immunology / Q000502:physiology*; D002449:Cell Aggregation; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D003093:Colitis, Ulcerative / Q000473:pathology; D003424:Crohn Disease / Q000473:pathology*; D005260:Female; D015726:Giant Cells / Q000473:pathology*; D006801:Humans; D018799:Intercellular Adhesion Molecule-1 / Q000276:immunology / Q000502:physiology*; D008297:Male; D009000:Monocytes / Q000473:pathology*; D010835:Phytohemagglutinins / Q000494:pharmacology
D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal; D018821:CD18 Antigens; D010835:Phytohemagglutinins; D018799:Intercellular Adhesion Molecule-1