Mucosal expression of basic fibroblastic growth factor, Syndecan 1 and tumor necrosis factor-alpha in diverticular disease of the colon: a case-control study.
BACKGROUND
Inflammation may be detected in diverticular disease (DD), and fibrosis may also develop. We assessed the mucosal expression of bFGF, SD1, and TNF-α in DD according to the severity of the disease. Moreover, we assessed the response to therapy of these cytokines in acute uncomplicated diverticulitis (AUD).


METHODS
Fifteen patients affected by AUD and seven patients affected by symptomatic uncomplicated diverticular disease (SUDD) were enrolled. Patients with asymptomatic diverticulosis (AD), segmental colitis associated with diverticulosis (SCAD), ulcerative colitis (UC), and healthy subjects (HC) served as control groups.


RESULTS
The expression of bFGF, SD1, and TNF-α was significantly higher in diverticulitis than in healthy controls, in diverticulosis, and in uncomplicated diverticular disease. Cytokines were significantly higher in uncomplicated diverticular disease than in healthy controls. Cytokine expression in diverticulitis did not differ significantly from that of ulcerative colitis. After treatment, TNF-α expression dropped significantly.


CONCLUSIONS
Mucosal TNF-α is overexpressed only in symptomatic DD, while SD1 and bFGF are already overexpressed in AD. Finally, TNF-α but not SD1 or bFGF expression seems to be influenced by the treatment in AUD.
Gastroenterology Service, ASL BAT, Andria (BT), Italy. antotursi@tiscali.it
A
A
Tursi
W
W
Elisei
G
G
Brandimarte
G M
GM
Giorgetti
C D
CD
Inchingolo
R
R
Nenna
M
M
Picchio
F
F
Giorgio
E
E
Ierardi
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000890:Anti-Infective Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D000894:Anti-Inflammatory Agents, Non-Steroidal / Q000627:therapeutic use; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D003092:Colitis / Q000378:metabolism; D003093:Colitis, Ulcerative / Q000378:metabolism; D003106:Colon / Q000378:metabolism; D004239:Diverticulitis, Colonic / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000378:metabolism*; D043963:Diverticulosis, Colonic / Q000378:metabolism*; D004359:Drug Therapy, Combination; D005260:Female; D016222:Fibroblast Growth Factor 2 / Q000378:metabolism*; D006801:Humans; D007249:Inflammation / Q000378:metabolism; D007413:Intestinal Mucosa / Q000378:metabolism*; D008297:Male; D019804:Mesalamine / Q000627:therapeutic use; D008795:Metronidazole / Q000627:therapeutic use; D008875:Middle Aged; D012294:Rifamycins / Q000627:therapeutic use; D000078262:Rifaximin; D053668:Syndecan-1 / Q000378:metabolism*; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha / Q000378:metabolism*
D000890:Anti-Infective Agents; D000894:Anti-Inflammatory Agents, Non-Steroidal; D012294:Rifamycins; C508241:SDC1 protein, human; D053668:Syndecan-1; D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha; D016222:Fibroblast Growth Factor 2; D008795:Metronidazole; D019804:Mesalamine; D000078262:Rifaximin