Crohn's disease but not chronic ulcerative colitis induces the expression of PAI-1 in enteric neurons.
OBJECTIVE
Chronic inflammation of the intestinal wall is the common characteristic of Crohn's disease and ulcerative colitis; disorders, which in some cases can be difficult to distinguish. The inflammation also affects the local neuronal plexuses of the enteric nervous system. It is known that plasminogen activator inhibitor-1 (PAI-1) and urokinase receptor (uPAR) are upregulated in neurons after experimental peripheral nerve injury and have been linked to nerve regeneration.


METHODS
The expression of PAI-1 and uPAR in neuronal cells in lesions of the gastrointestinal tract was analyzed by immunohistochemical techniques.


RESULTS
PAI-1 was found in a subset of neurons primarily located in the submucosal plexus of the small and large intestine in 24 of 28 cases (86%) with Crohn's disease, but in none of 17 cases with chronic ulcerative colitis and other severe inflammatory conditions in the intestinal wall. The PAI-1 was seen in the perikarya of the neurons and a few proximal axons, whereas nerves were negative. uPAR was seen in nerves in all types of lesion varying from 21% to 88% of the cases, most frequent in colon adenocarcinomas. No uPAR-positive nerves were detected in normal colon.


CONCLUSIONS
PAI-1-positive neurons in inflammatory bowel disease are linked to chronic inflammation in Crohn's disease, implying PAI-1 as a potential parameter for the differential diagnosis between Crohn's disease and ulcerative colitis. The findings also suggest that PAI-1 in neurons is related to pain and that both PAI-1 and uPAR are involved in neuronal repair in the inflamed tissue.
The Finsen Laboratory, Rigshospitalet, DK-2200 Copenhagen, Denmark.
Ole D
OD
Laerum
Martin
M
Illemann
Arne
A
Skarstein
Lars
L
Helgeland
Kjell
K
Ovrebø
Keld
K
Danø
Boye S
BS
Nielsen
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D015415:Biomarkers / Q000378:metabolism; D003093:Colitis, Ulcerative / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000628:therapy; D003424:Crohn Disease / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000628:therapy; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007124:Immunoenzyme Techniques; D007413:Intestinal Mucosa / Q000378:metabolism; D007422:Intestines / Q000294:innervation; D008297:Male; D018613:Microscopy, Confocal; D008856:Microscopy, Fluorescence; D008875:Middle Aged; D009474:Neurons / Q000378:metabolism*; D017395:Plasminogen Activator Inhibitor 1 / Q000378:metabolism*; D055293:Receptors, Urokinase Plasminogen Activator / Q000378:metabolism
D015415:Biomarkers; D017395:Plasminogen Activator Inhibitor 1; D055293:Receptors, Urokinase Plasminogen Activator