Five mucosal transcripts of interest in ulcerative colitis identified by quantitative real-time PCR: a prospective study.
BACKGROUND
The cause and pathophysiology of ulcerative colitis are both mainly unknown. We have previously used whole-genome microarray technique on biopsies obtained from patients with ulcerative colitis to identify 5 changed mucosal transcripts. The aim of this study was to compare mucosal expressions of these five transcripts in ulcerative colitis patients vs. controls, along with the transcript expression in relation to the clinical ulcerative colitis status.


METHODS
Colonic mucosal specimens from rectum and caecum were taken at ambulatory colonoscopy from ulcerative colitis patients (n = 49) with defined inflammatory activity and disease extension, and from controls (n = 67) without inflammatory bowel disease. The five mucosal transcripts aldolase B, elafin, MST-1, simNIPhom and SLC6A14 were analyzed using quantitative real-time PCR.


RESULTS
Significant transcript differences in the rectal mucosa for all five transcripts were demonstrated in ulcerative colitis patients compared to controls. The grade of transcript expression was related to the clinical disease activity.


CONCLUSIONS
The five gene transcripts were changed in patients with ulcerative colitis, and were related to the disease activity. The known biological function of some of the transcripts may contribute to the inflammatory features and indicate a possible role of microbes in ulcerative colitis. The findings may also contribute to our pathophysiological understanding of ulcerative colitis.
Eriksson
Anders
A
Department of Internal Medicine, Gastroenterology Unit, Sahlgren's University Hospital/Ostra, Göteborg, Sweden. anders.s.eriksson@vgregion.se
Flach
Carl-Fredrik
CF
Lindgren
Anders
A
Kvifors
Eva
E
Lange
Stefan
S
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D026905:Amino Acid Transport Systems; D026921:Amino Acid Transport Systems, Neutral / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D001706:Biopsy; D002352:Carrier Proteins / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D002432:Cecum / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D003093:Colitis, Ulcerative / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology; D053492:Elafin / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D005260:Female; D005634:Fructose-Bisphosphate Aldolase / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D017228:Hepatocyte Growth Factor / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009092:Mucous Membrane / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D016133:Polymerase Chain Reaction; D011446:Prospective Studies; D011518:Proto-Oncogene Proteins / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D012007:Rectum / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D014158:Transcription, Genetic
D026905:Amino Acid Transport Systems; D026921:Amino Acid Transport Systems, Neutral; D002352:Carrier Proteins; D053492:Elafin; D011518:Proto-Oncogene Proteins; C503995:SLC6A14 protein, human; C533660:SimNIPhom protein, human; C082332:macrophage stimulating protein; D017228:Hepatocyte Growth Factor; D005634:Fructose-Bisphosphate Aldolase