Biochemical and immunohistochemical analysis of glycosaminoglycans in inflamed and non-inflamed intestinal mucosa of patients with Crohn's disease.
OBJECTIVE
Changes in extracellular matrix glycosaminoglycans (GAGs) of the intestinal mucosa have been associated with inflammatory bowel disease. The aim of the present study was to follow the changes in GAGs metabolism during the progression from non-inflamed to inflamed intestinal colon of patients with Crohn's disease (CD), using direct biochemical analysis and specific immunohistochemistry against chondroitin/dermatan sulfate and heparan sulfate.


METHODS
The content of GAGs from inflamed and non-inflamed colon of eight patients with active CD was estimated by uronic acid per dry weight of tissue and analyzed by agarose gel electrophoresis and ion-exchange chromatography. Intestinal sections were stained using antibodies against dermatan sulfate/chondroitin 4-sulfate (DS/CS), heparan sulfate (HS), and ICAM-1 (CD54), and analyzed by confocal microscopy.


RESULTS
There was a reduction in the amount of GAGs in the non-inflamed colon of patients with CD. In the inflamed colon, HS, CS and DS showed increased concentrations compared with the non-inflamed colon. GAGs showed a diffuse distribution in the lamina propria and in the basement membrane of both inflamed and non-inflamed mucosa of patients with CD.


CONCLUSIONS
We observed a marked reduction in GAGs with altered patterns of distribution in the non-inflamed colon of patients with CD. The increase in the synthesis of GAGs observed in the inflamed colon may be a compensatory mechanism for the restoration of the integrity of the intestinal mucosa.
Belmiro
Celso L R
CL
Laboratório de Tecido Conjuntivo, Núcleo de Glicobiologia Aplicada, Hospital Universitário Clementino Fraga Filho, Departamento de Bioquímica Médica, Instituto de Ciências Biomédicas, Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.
Souza
Heitor S P
HS
Elia
Celeste C S
CC
Castelo-Branco
Morgana T L
MT
Silva
Flavia R
FR
Machado
Rosane L
RL
Pavão
Mauro S G
MS
D000328:Adult; D003424:Crohn Disease / Q000276:immunology* / Q000503:physiopathology*; D018450:Disease Progression; D005260:Female; D006025:Glycosaminoglycans / Q000032:analysis / Q000378:metabolism*; D006801:Humans; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D007249:Inflammation / Q000503:physiopathology*; D007413:Intestinal Mucosa / Q000473:pathology; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged
D006025:Glycosaminoglycans