title: Galectin-3 expression in pouchitis in patients with ulcerative colitis who underwent ileal pouch-anal anastomosis (IPAA).
abstract: Galectin-3, an endogenous pleiotropic beta-galactoside-binding protein, which is expressed by various malignant and normal cells, regulates many biological and pathological processes, including inflammation. In the present study, we tested a possible correlation between the severity of pouchitis in patients with ulcerative colitis who underwent ileal pouch-anal anastomosis (IPAA) and the presence of galectin-3(+) macrophages in pouch mucosa. Paraffin-embedded pouch biopsies from patients with normal pouch function or chronic and recurrent acute pouchitis were immunohistostained with galectin-3, CD68, and smooth muscle actin (SMA) antibodies. Microscopic examination was performed in a blinded fashion. There was a significant decrease in the staining index of galectin-3 in the subepithelial macrophages in patients with chronic pouchitis (0.53, P=0.001; n=12) or recurrent acute pouchitis (0.43, P=0.008; n=10) when compared to patients with no clinical manifestations of pouchitis (0.63, n=12). No significant differences were noted in the lamina propria of small intestine biopsies from the same patients (from 0.63 to 0.68, P=0.24). Galectin-3 staining was restricted to CD68(+) macrophages and not present in myofibroblasts. Clinical manifestation of pouchitis is inversely correlated with galectin-3 expression in the pouches' subepithelial lamina propria macrophages.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pathology, Tel Aviv Sourasky Medical Center, affiliated to the Sackler Faculty of Medicine, Pathology Institute, Tel Aviv University, Tel Aviv, Israel.
authors.forename: Eli
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Brazowski
authors.forename: Iris
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Dotan
authors.forename: Hagit
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Tulchinsky
authors.forename: Irina
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Filip
authors.forename: Avi
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Eisenthal
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000951:Antigens, Neoplasm; D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor; D002352:Carrier Proteins / Q000378:metabolism*; D003093:Colitis, Ulcerative / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery; D039021:Colonic Pouches; D005260:Female; D006023:Glycoproteins / Q000378:metabolism*; D006801:Humans; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D008264:Macrophages / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011183:Postoperative Complications / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology; D019449:Pouchitis / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology; D016737:Proctocolectomy, Restorative; D011446:Prospective Studies; D055815:Young Adult; D016326:Extracellular Matrix Proteins
chemical_list: D000951:Antigens, Neoplasm; D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor; D002352:Carrier Proteins; D006023:Glycoproteins; C081856:LGALS3BP protein, human; D016326:Extracellular Matrix Proteins