Subclinical gut inflammation in spondyloarthropathy patients is associated with upregulation of the E-cadherin/catenin complex.
OBJECTIVE
Previously an upregulation of E-cadherin and its associated molecules alpha-catenin, beta-catenin and plakoglobin has been demonstrated in clinically overt inflammatory bowel disease (IBD). The aim of this study was to investigate the expression of the E-cadherin/catenin complex in subclinically inflamed bowel mucosa from spondyloarthropathy (SpA) patients.


METHODS
Ileal and colonic biopsy specimens from 19 SpA patients with subclinical inflammatory gut lesions and from seven controls were stained with monoclonal antibodies against E-cadherin, beta-catenin and plakoglobin and a polyclonal antibody against alpha-catenin. E-cadherin mRNA was detected using a riboprobe. Inflammation was histologically classified into acute, chronic active and chronic quiescent forms.


RESULTS
In acute and chronic active bowel inflammation of SpA patients, upregulation of the E-cadherin/catenin glycoprotein complex could be observed. Chronic lesions in a quiescent state did not show such an upregulation. Furthermore, chronic inflammation was associated with an increase in E-cadherin mRNA.


CONCLUSIONS
As some of the SpA patients with subclinical gut inflammation develop IBD, upregulation of the E-cadherin/catenin complex in inflamed bowel mucosa from SpA patients may point to early cellular changes in the development of IBD. However, at present it cannot be excluded that increased E-cadherin/catenin complex expression is a bystander phenomenon of active inflammation.
Demetter
P
P
Department of Pathology, University Hospital, University of Gent, University Hospital, 6 Blok A, De Pintelaan 185, 9000 Gent, Belgium.
Baeten
D
D
De Keyser
F
F
De Vos
M
M
Van Damme
N
N
Verbruggen
G
G
Vermeulen
S
S
Mareel
M
M
Elewaut
D
D
Mielants
H
H
Veys
E M
EM
Cuvelier
C A
CA
D000208:Acute Disease; D000328:Adult; D015820:Cadherins / Q000378:metabolism*; D002648:Child; D002908:Chronic Disease; D003598:Cytoskeletal Proteins / Q000378:metabolism; D051180:Desmoplakins; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007124:Immunoenzyme Techniques; D017403:In Situ Hybridization; D015212:Inflammatory Bowel Diseases / Q000209:etiology* / Q000378:metabolism; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D013166:Spondylitis / Q000150:complications* / Q000378:metabolism; D015534:Trans-Activators; D015854:Up-Regulation; D051178:alpha Catenin; D051176:beta Catenin; D051185:gamma Catenin
C495273:CTNNA1 protein, human; C495270:CTNNB1 protein, human; D015820:Cadherins; D003598:Cytoskeletal Proteins; D051180:Desmoplakins; D015534:Trans-Activators; D051178:alpha Catenin; D051176:beta Catenin; D051185:gamma Catenin