Upregulation of Reg 1alpha and GW112 in the epithelium of inflamed colonic mucosa.
OBJECTIVE
Colonic epithelium is involved in the regulation of intestinal function and mucosal immune responses, and its function is altered in inflammatory bowel disease (IBD). However, a comprehensive analysis of the genetic alterations in inflamed colonic epithelium is not available at present. The aim of our study was to detect genes that are preferentially expressed in inflamed colonic epithelia and clarify the biochemical responses of epithelial cells in inflamed colonic mucosa.


METHODS
cDNA representation difference analysis was used to identify candidate genes selectively expressed in inflamed colonic epithelia. Selective expression of these genes in the epithelium of inflamed colonic mucosa, including IBD and non-IBD tissues, was examined by real time polymerase chain reaction and in situ hybridisation. The effect of cell confluence and inflammatory mediators on Reg 1alpha gene expression was examined using a colon cancer cell line (HT29).


RESULTS
We identified seven candidate genes that were presumed to be upregulated in the inflamed colonic epithelium. Of these, Reg 1alpha and GW112 were the dominant species and expression of these genes was confined to the crypt epithelium. In vitro studies using a colonic epithelial cell line suggested that cell confluence regulates Reg 1alpha gene expression.


CONCLUSIONS
Selective expression of Reg 1alpha and GW112 genes in the crypt epithelium of inflamed colonic mucosa suggests the important regulatory functions of these genes.
Shinozaki
S
S
Institute of Gastroenterology, Tokyo Women's Medical University, Tokyo, Japan.
Nakamura
T
T
Iimura
M
M
Kato
Y
Y
Iizuka
B
B
Kobayashi
M
M
Hayashi
N
N
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D017305:Annexin A1 / Q000378:metabolism; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D003110:Colonic Neoplasms / Q000378:metabolism; D016207:Cytokines / Q000502:physiology; D018076:DNA, Complementary; D005260:Female; D015870:Gene Expression; D005809:Genes, Regulator / Q000502:physiology*; D006801:Humans; D017403:In Situ Hybridization; D015212:Inflammatory Bowel Diseases / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism; D007413:Intestinal Mucosa / Q000378:metabolism*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D016133:Polymerase Chain Reaction; D017422:Sequence Analysis, DNA; D014407:Tumor Cells, Cultured; D015854:Up-Regulation
D017305:Annexin A1; D016207:Cytokines; D018076:DNA, Complementary