Enhanced production of monocyte chemotactic protein 3 in inflammatory bowel disease mucosa.
BACKGROUND
The beta chemokine monocyte chemotactic protein 3 (MCP-3) has chemoattractant and activating capabilities in monocytes, lymphocytes, eosinophils, and basophils.


OBJECTIVE
To investigate MCP-3 expression in inflammatory conditions of the human intestinal mucosa.


METHODS
Forty five colon biopsy specimens from 18 patients with inflammatory bowel disease (IBD; 16 specimens from inflamed and 10 from non-inflamed areas) and 19 control patients were examined.


METHODS
Immunohistochemical staining and reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) were used for MCP-3 detection in tissue sections. Intestinal epithelial cell lines (HT-29, Caco-2, T-84) were stimulated with interleukin (IL) 1beta, IL-6, and tumour necrosis factor alpha (TNF-alpha) and examined for MCP-3 protein and mRNA expression using immunocytochemistry and RT-PCR, respectively.


RESULTS
In tissue sections, MCP-3 protein was detected predominantly in epithelial cells, both in patients with IBD and in controls. MCP-3 staining was particularly pronounced at sites of active mucosal inflammation. The intensity of MCP-3 staining was positively correlated with the extent of epithelial destruction. In intestinal epithelial cell lines, MCP-3 mRNA was expressed, whereas MCP-3 protein was not consistently detected.


CONCLUSIONS
Our data show that MCP-3 protein is present in normal and inflamed intestinal tissue. MCP-3 production is substantially enhanced in areas of active inflammation, suggesting an immunoregulatory role of MCP-3 in intestinal inflammation.
Wedemeyer
J
J
Department of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Medical School of Hannover, D-30623 Hannover, Germany.
Lorentz
A
A
Göke
M
M
Meier
P N
PN
Flemming
P
P
Dahinden
C A
CA
Manns
M P
MP
Bischoff
S C
SC
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001706:Biopsy; D018929:Cell Culture Techniques; D002460:Cell Line; D054410:Chemokine CCL7; D016207:Cytokines / Q000276:immunology; D015870:Gene Expression; D006801:Humans; D007124:Immunoenzyme Techniques; D015212:Inflammatory Bowel Diseases / Q000276:immunology*; D007413:Intestinal Mucosa / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism; D008875:Middle Aged; D018945:Monocyte Chemoattractant Proteins / Q000096:biosynthesis* / Q000235:genetics; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000235:genetics; D020133:Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction
C515450:CCL7 protein, human; D054410:Chemokine CCL7; D016207:Cytokines; D018945:Monocyte Chemoattractant Proteins; D012333:RNA, Messenger