title: Deficiency of invariant NK T cells in Crohn's disease and ulcerative colitis.
abstract: The aim of this study was to investigate whether immunoregulatory invariant NK T cells are deficient in Crohn's disease or ulcerative colitis. Blood was collected for flow cytometry from 106 Crohn's disease, 91 ulcerative colitis, and 155 control subjects. Invariant NK T cells were assessed by Valpha24 and (alpha-galactosylceramide/CD1d tetramer markers. Intracellular cytokine was measured after in vitro anti-CD3 antibody stimulation. Valpha24+ T cells were quantified in ileocolonic biopsies as mRNA by real-time PCR and by immunofluorescence. Circulating invariant NK T cells were 5.3% of the control levels in Crohn's (P < 0.001) and 7.9% of the control levels in ulcerative colitis (P < 0.001). Interleukin-4 production was impaired in Crohn's disease and ulcerative colitis. Intestinal Valpha24 mRNA expression was 7% in Crohn's disease (P < 0.05) and 9% in ulcerative colitis (P < 0.05). Intestinal Valpha24+ T cells were 23% in Crohn's disease but not reduced in ulcerative colitis. We conclude that invariant NK T cells are deficient in Crohn's disease and in ulcerative colitis.
authors.affiliation: Basil Hetzel Institute for Medical Research and Department of Medicine, University of Adelaide, Adelaide, Australia.
authors.forename: Randall H
authors.initials: RH
authors.lastname: Grose
authors.forename: Fiona M
authors.initials: FM
authors.lastname: Thompson
authors.forename: Alan G
authors.initials: AG
authors.lastname: Baxter
authors.forename: Daniel G
authors.initials: DG
authors.lastname: Pellicci
authors.forename: Adrian G
authors.initials: AG
authors.lastname: Cummins
mesh_terms: D016022:Case-Control Studies; D003093:Colitis, Ulcerative / Q000276:immunology*; D003424:Crohn Disease / Q000276:immunology*; D016207:Cytokines / Q000378:metabolism*; D006801:Humans; D007413:Intestinal Mucosa / Q000276:immunology*; D007694:Killer Cells, Natural / Q000378:metabolism*; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000378:metabolism; D016693:Receptors, Antigen, T-Cell, alpha-beta / Q000378:metabolism; D016176:T-Lymphocyte Subsets / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D016207:Cytokines; D012333:RNA, Messenger; D016693:Receptors, Antigen, T-Cell, alpha-beta