Immunohistochemical assessment of mucosal cytokine profile in acetic acid experimental colitis.
Experimental colitis induced by acetic acid has been used extensively as a model for intestinal inflammatory disease. Colonic tissue lesions of intestinal inflammatory disease patients seem to be related to the increased local production of pro-inflammatory cytokines (IL-1, IL-6, TNF-alpha, and IFN-gamma).


OBJECTIVE
To assess the cytokine expression pattern identified through immunohistochemistry in colonic mucosa after experimental colitis induced by acetic acid and establish the relationship between this pattern and the presence of macroscopic lesions.


METHODS
Adult male Wistar rats (n = 39) were divided at random into 4 groups: NC45 and NC24 (control without colitis; sacrificed at 45 minutes and 24 hours, respectively); and WC45 and WC24 (with experimental colitis induced by acetic acid; sacrificed at 45 minutes and 24 hours, respectively). Macroscopic and microscopic alterations in colonic tissue were evaluated, and cytokine expression was assessed through immunohistochemistry.


RESULTS
After 24 hours, IL-1 expression was greater in the groups with colitis when compared to the groups without colitis. IL-4 expression was higher in the WC45 group. There was an increase in both INF-gamma and IL-6 related to the presence of necrosis of the colonic mucosa in the groups with colitis for both periods evaluated.


CONCLUSIONS
The immunohistochemical technique was efficient for the analysis of various cytokine expressions in the colonic tissue. There was an increase in the IL-1 pro-inflammatory cytokines as well as in IL-6 and IFN-gamma associated with the presence of colonic necrosis. Experimental colitis induced by acetic acid is a useful model for the development of studies assessing the role of cytokines in the inflammation of mucosa as well as anti-cytokine therapies.
Bertevello
Pedro L
PL
Department of Gastroenterology, Faculty of Medicine, University of São Paulo, São Paulo, SP, Brazil.
Logullo
Angela Flávia
AF
Nonogaki
Sueli
S
Campos
Fabio M
FM
Chiferi
Valcir
V
Alves
Claudia C
CC
Torrinhas
Raquel S
RS
Gama-Rodrigues
Joaquim José
JJ
Waitzberg
Dan L
DL
D019342:Acetic Acid; D000818:Animals; D003092:Colitis / Q000139:chemically induced / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology; D016207:Cytokines / Q000096:biosynthesis*; D004195:Disease Models, Animal; D007413:Intestinal Mucosa / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology; D008297:Male; D009336:Necrosis; D051381:Rats; D017208:Rats, Wistar; D012720:Severity of Illness Index
D016207:Cytokines; D019342:Acetic Acid