Pitfalls in cytokine analysis in inflammatory bowel disease.
Analysis of cytokine production and function is an indispensable tool to study Crohn's disease and ulcerative colitis. This analysis has generated a tremendous amount of data, but a clear interpretation of results has been hampered by limited attention paid to several patient- and sample-related pitfalls. These include: clinical parameters; the relative value of circulating vs. intestinal cytokine levels; the selection of tissue specimens and their processing method; the specific cellular source of each cytokine; the effect of cytokine inducers; and the technique utilized to obtain qualitative or quantitative data on cytokine protein or mRNA. Once all of these crucial variables are taken into proper perspective, a better understanding will emerge of the true role of cytokines in the pathogenesis of inflammatory bowel disease.
Division of Gastroenterology, Case Western Reserve University School of Medicine (BRB), Cleveland, OH 44106-4952, USA.
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D003093:Colitis, Ulcerative / Q000378:metabolism*; D003424:Crohn Disease / Q000378:metabolism*; D016207:Cytokines / Q000032:analysis* / Q000096:biosynthesis / Q000502:physiology; D006801:Humans
D016207:Cytokines