Altered expression of interferon-gamma and interleukin-4 in inflammatory bowel disease.
Experimental data indicate that mucosal CD4+ T cells play an important role in the pathogenesis of inflammatory bowel disease (IBD). Based on the pattern of cytokine production, CD4+ T cells may be distinguished into two different phenotypes. Th1 responses are characterized by secretion of interleukin (IL)-2, tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-alpha, lymphotoxin, and interferon (IFN)-gamma and are associated with delayed-type hypersensitivity reactions, whereas Th2 responses, which are characterized by secretion of IL-4, IL-5, and IL-10, have been associated with humoral immune responses and allergy. To assess the number of IFN-alpha and IL-4 positive cells in IBD and normal intestinal specimens, frozen sections from intestinal specimens from 10 Crohn's disease (CD), 8 ulcerative colitis (UC), and 8 healthy controls were examined by immunohistochemistry. Monoclonal antibodies for CD3, CD8, IFN-gamma, and IL-4 were used. T-lymphocyte infiltration and cytokine expression by epithelial, lamina propria, and submucosal cells were scored on a four-point scale by two independent observers who were blinded for the clinical data. One-way analysis of variance (ANOVA) testing was used for statistical analysis. In intestinal specimens from IBD patients, the number of CD3+ cells was found increased in the lamina propria and, within the submucosa, this increase was significant (p < 0.001). In CD the number of lamina propria IFN-gamma positive cells was significantly increased as compared with controls (p < 0.002). In UC the number of both IFN-gamma and IL-4 producing cells in the lamina propria was not significantly increased as compared with controls. The present results confirm the existence of a Th1-biased pattern production in CD but not in UC.
Camoglio
L
L
Laboratory of Experimental Internal Medicine, Academic Medical Centre, University of Amsterdam, The Netherlands.
Te Velde
A A
AA
Tigges
A J
AJ
Das
P K
PK
Van Deventer
S J
SJ
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000704:Analysis of Variance; D015703:Antigens, CD / Q000032:analysis; D003082:Colectomy; D003093:Colitis, Ulcerative / Q000276:immunology / Q000473:pathology* / Q000601:surgery; D003424:Crohn Disease / Q000276:immunology / Q000473:pathology* / Q000601:surgery; D046508:Culture Techniques; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D007371:Interferon-gamma / Q000032:analysis*; D015847:Interleukin-4 / Q000032:analysis*; D007413:Intestinal Mucosa / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000473:pathology; D018655:Lymphocyte Count; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012016:Reference Values; D013601:T-Lymphocytes / Q000737:chemistry / Q000166:cytology
D015703:Antigens, CD; D015847:Interleukin-4; D007371:Interferon-gamma