title: Differential expression of CCR5 and CRTH2 on infiltrated cells in colonic mucosa of patients with ulcerative colitis.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The pathogenesis of ulcerative colitis (UC) is unclear, but abnormal infiltration of T lymphocytes in the colonic mucosa has been implicated in the mucosal tissue damage. The abnormal cytokine production because of a T helper (h)1/Th2 imbalance may play an important role in continuing inflammation in the colonic mucosa. In the present study, the expression of chemokine receptor 5 (CCR5) as a Th1 marker and a chemoattractant receptor-homologs molecule expressed on Th2 cells (CRTH2) were investigated in order to analyze impaired Th1/Th2 responses in the colonic mucosa of UC patients.
  
  
  METHODS
  Tissue samples were obtained by colonic biopsies from patients with UC or colonic polyps, with informed consent. Immunohistochemical analysis was performed on periodate, lysine-paraformaldehyde-fixed serial cryostat sections using the labeled streptavidin biotin method. Monoclonal antibodies against CD4, CCR5 or CRTH2 were used as primary antibodies. The number of cells expressing CD4, CCR5 or CRTH2 per unit area was calculated by using an image analyzer.
  
  
  RESULTS
  In the patients with UC, the numbers of CD4- and CCR5-positive cells were significantly increased in inflamed mucosa, and appeared to be correlated with the disease activity. The infiltration of CRTH2-positive cells was predominantly observed in the mildly inflamed or the margin of inflamed mucosa of UC patients.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  There is a possibility that Th1 responses significantly occur in colonic mucosa with severe inflammation, while Th2 responses mainly occur with mild inflammation in UC patients. The Th1/Th2 imbalance in colonic mucosa may be related to the disease progression of UC.
authors.affiliation: Second Department of Internal Medicine, National Defense Medical College, 3-2 Namiki, Tokorozawa, Saitama 359-8513, Japan.
authors.forename: Koji
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Matsuzaki
authors.forename: Ryota
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Hokari
authors.forename: Shingo
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Kato
authors.forename: Yoshikazu
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Tsuzuki
authors.forename: Hirofumi
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Tanaka
authors.forename: Chie
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Kurihara
authors.forename: Atsuhiro
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Iwai
authors.forename: Atsushi
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Kawaguchi
authors.forename: Shigeaki
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Nagao
authors.forename: Kazuro
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Itoh
authors.forename: Kinya
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Nagata
authors.forename: Soichiro
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Miura
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D003093:Colitis, Ulcerative / Q000378:metabolism*; D003106:Colon / Q000166:cytology* / Q000378:metabolism*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007413:Intestinal Mucosa / Q000166:cytology* / Q000378:metabolism*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D019713:Receptors, CCR5 / Q000096:biosynthesis*; D011971:Receptors, Immunologic / Q000096:biosynthesis*; D011982:Receptors, Prostaglandin
chemical_list: D019713:Receptors, CCR5; D011971:Receptors, Immunologic; D011982:Receptors, Prostaglandin; C036293:prostaglandin D2 receptor