[Expression of interleukin 18 in intestinal mucosa of patients with inflammatory bowel disease and its implications].
OBJECTIVE
To investigate the expression of interleukin 18 (IL-18) in intestinal mucosa of patients with inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) and its relation with disease active state.


METHODS
IL-18mRNA transcripts were evaluated by using a semiquantitative RT-PCR protocol. Specimens of 23 Crohn's disease (CD) and 20 ulcerative colitis (UC) patients and 20 controls were studied by immunohistochemical staining.


RESULTS
Transcripts of IL-18 were found to be increased significantly in intestinal mucosa from active CD compared with UC and control. Immunohistochemical staining analysis localized the expression of IL-18 to intestinal epithelial cells and lamina propria (macrophages and dendritic cells, mainly). Staining was more intense in active CD compared with UC and control. Both transcriptions and staining of IL-18 in active UC were elevated, but there was no significant difference compared with control. Expression of IL-18 decreased in inactive CD (n = 9) or UC (n = 11) compared with active state of the same patients, and the difference in CD had significance.


CONCLUSIONS
IL-18 may be involved in the pathogenesis of IBD and related with CD activity.
Zhang
Bingyong
B
Department of Gastroenterology, Peking University Third Hospital, China.
Lu
Yumin
Y
Hong
Tianpei
T
Pei
Fei
F
Li
Fuying
F
Wang
Xingjuan
X
D003093:Colitis, Ulcerative; D003424:Crohn Disease; D003713:Dendritic Cells; D006801:Humans; D015212:Inflammatory Bowel Diseases / Q000276:immunology*; D020382:Interleukin-18 / Q000378:metabolism*; D007413:Intestinal Mucosa / Q000276:immunology*; D008264:Macrophages; D012333:RNA, Messenger
D020382:Interleukin-18; D012333:RNA, Messenger