title: Connective tissue growth factor expression is increased in collagenous colitis and coeliac disease.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Subepithelial collagen deposition is a classical feature of collagenous colitis (CC), but is also seen in untreated coeliac disease. The end-stage mediator of excess cellular collagen production is connective tissue growth factor (CTGF). The aim of this study was to investigate CTGF expression by in situ hybridization (ISH) and polymerase chain reaction (PCR) in CC and coeliac disease as well as lymphocytic colitis (LC), Crohn's colitis and ulcerative colitis (UC).
  
  
  RESULTS
  For coeliac disease we analysed fresh frozen material by quantitative reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) and archival material for ISH. PCR transcripts in coeliac disease were moderately elevated and labelled cells were significantly increased in the subepithelial zone. For CC, LC and UC we investigated archival material because of the rarity of the first two conditions. There was a marked increase in CTGF expression in the subepithelial zone in CC, localizing to cells with the morphology of smooth muscle cells, which was not seen in LC.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The colocalization of CTGF transcripts with areas of excessive collagen deposition in coeliac disease and CC suggest that it might be the end-stage mediator of local fibrosis in these conditions.
authors.affiliation: Medical Clinic I Gastroenterology, Infectious Diseases, Rheumatology, Charité-Campus Benjamin Franklin, Berlin, Germany. ute.guenther@charite.de
authors.forename: Ute
authors.initials: U
authors.lastname: Günther
authors.forename: Adrian C
authors.initials: AC
authors.lastname: Bateman
authors.forename: R Mark
authors.initials: RM
authors.lastname: Beattie
authors.forename: Michael
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Bauer
authors.forename: Thomas T
authors.initials: TT
authors.lastname: MacDonald
authors.forename: Berndt A
authors.initials: BA
authors.lastname: Kaskas
mesh_terms: D002446:Celiac Disease / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology; D046729:Colitis, Collagenous / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology; D055513:Connective Tissue Growth Factor / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D005347:Fibroblasts / Q000378:metabolism; D006801:Humans; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000378:metabolism; D020133:Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction; D016212:Transforming Growth Factor beta / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D012333:RNA, Messenger; D016212:Transforming Growth Factor beta; D055513:Connective Tissue Growth Factor