title: Absence of mucosal inflammation in uncomplicated diverticular disease.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Uncomplicated diverticular disease is a common condition in patients older than 50 years. Symptoms are aspecific and overlapping with those of irritable bowel syndrome. Nowadays, patients are often treated with antinflammatory drugs (5-aminosalicilic acid).
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  Our purpose was to evaluate the presence of inflammation in the colonic mucosa of patients with symptomatic uncomplicated diverticular disease compared with subjects without diverticula.
  
  
  METHODS
  Endoscopic biopsies of colon from 10 patients with symptomatic uncomplicated diverticular disease and 10 from subjects without diverticula (controls) were taken. Specimens were homogenised and IL2, IL4, IL5, IL8, IL10, IL12p70, IL13, IFN gamma, TNF alfa (searchlight multiplex technique), TGF beta, transglutaminase type 2 and caspase 9 were measured. Histochemistry for transglutaminase type 2 and TUNEL were performed on the histological sections, in addition to morphologic evaluation, as markers of tissue remodelling and apoptosis. For statistical analysis Student's t test and Spearman correlation test were used.
  
  
  RESULTS
  No histological differences were detected between the patients with an uncomplicated diverticular disease and controls. Mean values of mucosal cytokines and of the other tested parameters did not show statistically significant differences between patients with uncomplicated diverticular disease and controls.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Even if based on a small number of patients, the study demonstrates the absence of inflammation in the mucosa of subjects affected by uncomplicated diverticular disease.
authors.affiliation: Center for Prevention and Diagnosis of Celiac Disease, Fondazione IRCCS Cà Granda Ospedale Maggiore Policlinico, Via F. Sforza 35, 29122, Milan, Italy. lucelli@yahoo.com
authors.forename: Luca
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Elli
authors.forename: Leda
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Roncoroni
authors.forename: Maria Teresa
authors.initials: MT
authors.lastname: Bardella
authors.forename: Claudia
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Terrani
authors.forename: Antonella
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Bonura
authors.forename: Michele
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Ciulla
authors.forename: Stefano
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Marconi
authors.forename: Luca
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Piodi
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D017209:Apoptosis; D001706:Biopsy; D053453:Caspase 9 / Q000378:metabolism; D003106:Colon / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D016207:Cytokines / Q000378:metabolism; D043963:Diverticulosis, Colonic / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology*; D004241:Diverticulum, Colon / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology*; D005260:Female; D019204:GTP-Binding Proteins / Q000378:metabolism; D006801:Humans; D007413:Intestinal Mucosa / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D000091345:Protein Glutamine gamma Glutamyltransferase 2; D011503:Transglutaminases / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D016207:Cytokines; D000091345:Protein Glutamine gamma Glutamyltransferase 2; D011503:Transglutaminases; D053453:Caspase 9; D019204:GTP-Binding Proteins