title: Mast cell number, substance P and vasoactive intestinal peptide in irritable bowel syndrome with diarrhea.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Recent studies have shown that mast cells play an important role in irritable bowel syndrome (IBS). We investigated the relationship between mast cells and the gut hormones substance P and vasoactive intestinal peptide (VIP) in irritable bowel syndrome with diarrhea (IBS-D).
  
  
  METHODS
  Colonoscopic biopsies were performed on the rectal mucosa of 43 subjects (IBS-D patients: 22, healthy volunteers: 21) diagnosed according to the Rome III criteria. Mast cells, and substance P & VIP were evaluated by quantitative immunohistology and image analysis. Mast cells were counted as tryptase-positive cells in the lamina propria, and substance P and VIP levels were expressed as percentages of total areas of staining.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Mast cell counts were higher in IBS-D patients than healthy volunteers (9.6 ± 3.3 vs. 5.7 ± 2.5/high power field (HPF), p < 0.01). Substance P was also elevated (0.11 ± 0.08% vs. 0.03 ± 0.02 %, p < 0.01) while VIP was only high in women with IBS-D. Mast cell counts were positively correlated with levels of substance P & VIP in women but not men (women: r = 0.625, p < 0.01 for substance P and r = 0.651, p < 0.01 for VIP). However, mast cell counts were not correlated with IBS symptoms including abdominal pain.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Mast cells are activated leading to the raised levels of substance P & VIP in IBS-D patients. However, the correlation between mast cells and levels of substance P & VIP differs according to gender.
authors.affiliation: Department of Internal Medicine, Hanyang University College of Medicine , Seoul , Korea.
authors.forename: Won
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Sohn
authors.forename: Oh Young
authors.initials: OY
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.forename: Sang Pyo
authors.initials: SP
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.forename: Kang Nyeong
authors.initials: KN
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.forename: Dae Won
authors.initials: DW
authors.lastname: Jun
authors.forename: Hang Lak
authors.initials: HL
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.forename: Byung Chul
authors.initials: BC
authors.lastname: Yoon
authors.forename: Ho Soon
authors.initials: HS
authors.lastname: Choi
authors.forename: Jongmin
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Sim
authors.forename: Ki-Seok
authors.initials: KS
authors.lastname: Jang
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D002452:Cell Count; D003967:Diarrhea / Q000209:etiology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007413:Intestinal Mucosa / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D043183:Irritable Bowel Syndrome / Q000150:complications / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology*; D008297:Male; D008407:Mast Cells; D008875:Middle Aged; D012007:Rectum / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D012737:Sex Factors; D013373:Substance P / Q000378:metabolism*; D014660:Vasoactive Intestinal Peptide / Q000378:metabolism*; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D013373:Substance P; D014660:Vasoactive Intestinal Peptide