title: Digital image analysis of inflammation markers in colorectal mucosa by using a spatial visualization method.
abstract: The aim of this study was to apply the spatial visualization method of digital images to quantitative analysis of pro-inflammatory cytokines IL-1, IL-6 and TNF-α in various segments of large bowel excised because of colitis ulcerosa in relation with selected clinical symptoms. Our preliminary study included 17 patients having undergone restorative proctocolectomy. Immunohistochemistry was performed for IL-1, IL-6 and TNF-α. The area fraction and intensity fraction of the cytokines studied were determined by digital image analysis. The results were then categorized using Alfred Immunohistochemistry Score. The expression of IL-1, IL-6 and TNF-α was significantly higher in the rectum than in colonic segments (p<0.01), and was associated with the patients' clinical condition. The method of quantitative immunohistochemistry presented here allows for searching associations between the expression of biomarkers and clinical symptoms. Evaluation of inflammatory cytokines could be recommended in the active stage of the disease with present symptoms of bloody and mucus stools. A higher expression of IL-1, IL-6 and TNF in samples beyond large intestine correlates with an intensified clinical course of the disease. In patients without bleeding and mucus symptoms present in stools, no significant correlations were found. Therefore, the assessment of cytokines during remission or clinically silent stage might not be useful.
authors.affiliation: Department of Bioinformatics and Computational Biology, Poznań University of Medical Sciences, Poland. Electronic address: elka@ump.edu.pl.
authors.forename: Elzbieta
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Kaczmarek
authors.affiliation: Department of General Surgery, Oncologic Gastroenterologic Surgery and Plastic Surgery, Poznań University of Medical Sciences, Poland.
authors.forename: Tomasz
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Banasiewicz
authors.affiliation: Department of Bioinformatics and Computational Biology, Poznań University of Medical Sciences, Poland.
authors.forename: Agnieszka
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Seraszek-Jaros
authors.affiliation: Department of General and Colorectal Surgery, Poznań University of Medical Sciences, Poland.
authors.forename: Piotr
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Krokowicz
authors.affiliation: Department of General and Colorectal Surgery, Poznań University of Medical Sciences, Poland.
authors.forename: Marcin
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Grochowalski
authors.affiliation: Department of Clinical Pathomorphology, Poznań University of Medical Sciences, Poland.
authors.forename: Przemysław
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Majewski
authors.affiliation: Department of Biology and Environmental Protection, Poznań University of Medical Sciences, Poland.
authors.forename: Jakub
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Zurawski
authors.affiliation: Department of General Surgery, Oncologic Gastroenterologic Surgery and Plastic Surgery, Poznań University of Medical Sciences, Poland.
authors.forename: Jacek
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Paszkowski
authors.affiliation: Department of General Surgery, Oncologic Gastroenterologic Surgery and Plastic Surgery, Poznań University of Medical Sciences, Poland.
authors.forename: Michał
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Drews
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D015415:Biomarkers / Q000032:analysis; D003082:Colectomy; D003093:Colitis, Ulcerative / Q000276:immunology* / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery; D003106:Colon / Q000276:immunology* / Q000473:pathology; D018450:Disease Progression; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007090:Image Interpretation, Computer-Assisted; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D018836:Inflammation Mediators / Q000032:analysis*; D007375:Interleukin-1 / Q000032:analysis; D015850:Interleukin-6 / Q000032:analysis; D007413:Intestinal Mucosa / Q000276:immunology* / Q000473:pathology; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011237:Predictive Value of Tests; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha / Q000032:analysis; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D015415:Biomarkers; C508600:IL6 protein, human; D018836:Inflammation Mediators; D007375:Interleukin-1; D015850:Interleukin-6; D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha
keywords: Digital image analysis; IL-1; IL-6; TNF-α; Ulcerative colitis