title: Defective apoptosis in intestinal and mesenteric adipose tissue of Crohn's disease patients.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Crohn's disease (CD) is associated with complex pathogenic pathways involving defects in apoptosis mechanisms. Recently, mesenteric adipose tissue (MAT) has been associated with CD ethiopathology, since adipose thickening is detected close to the affected intestinal area. However, the potential role of altered apoptosis in MAT of CD has not been addressed.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  To evaluate apoptosis in the intestinal mucosa and MAT of patients with CD.
  
  
  METHODS
  Samples of intestinal mucosa and MAT from patients with ileocecal CD and from non-inflammatory bowel diseases patients (controls) were studied. Apoptosis was assessed by TUNEL assay and correlated with the adipocytes histological morphometric analysis. The transcriptional and protein analysis of selected genes and proteins related to apoptosis were determined.
  
  
  RESULTS
  TUNEL assay showed fewer apoptotic cells in CD, when compared to the control groups, both in the intestinal mucosa and in MAT. In addition, the number of apoptotic cells (TUNEL) correlated significantly with the area and perimeter of the adipose cells in MAT. Transcriptomic and proteomic analysis reveal a significantly lower transcript and protein levels of Bax in the intestinal mucosa of CD, compared to the controls; low protein levels of Bax were found localized in the lamina propria and not in the epithelium of this tissue. Furthermore, higher level of Bcl-2 and low level of Caspase 3 were seen in the MAT of CD patients.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The defective apoptosis in MAT may explain the singular morphological characteristics of this tissue in CD, which may be implicated in the pathophysiology of the disease.
authors.affiliation: Coloproctology Unit, Surgery Department, University of Campinas (UNICAMP), Medical School, Sao Paulo, Brazil; Laboratory of Cell Signaling, Internal Medicine Department, University of Campinas (UNICAMP), Medical School, Sao Paulo, Brazil; Doctoral CAPES fellowship, Post graduate Program in Surgery Sciences, Faculty of Medical School, University of Campinas, Sao Paulo, Brazil.
authors.forename: Cilene Bicca
authors.initials: CB
authors.lastname: Dias
authors.affiliation: Laboratory of Cell Signaling, Internal Medicine Department, University of Campinas (UNICAMP), Medical School, Sao Paulo, Brazil.
authors.forename: Marciane
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Milanski
authors.affiliation: Laboratory of Cell Signaling, Internal Medicine Department, University of Campinas (UNICAMP), Medical School, Sao Paulo, Brazil.
authors.forename: Mariana
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Portovedo
authors.affiliation: Department of Pathology, University of Campinas (UNICAMP), Medical School, Sao Paulo, Brazil.
authors.forename: Vivian
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Horita
authors.affiliation: Coloproctology Unit, Surgery Department, University of Campinas (UNICAMP), Medical School, Sao Paulo, Brazil.
authors.forename: Maria de Lourdes Setsuko
authors.initials: Mde L
authors.lastname: Ayrizono
authors.affiliation: Department of Gastroenterology and Bioinformatics Platform, CIBERehd, Barcelona, Spain.
authors.forename: Núria
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Planell
authors.affiliation: Coloproctology Unit, Surgery Department, University of Campinas (UNICAMP), Medical School, Sao Paulo, Brazil.
authors.forename: Cláudio Saddy Rodrigues
authors.initials: CS
authors.lastname: Coy
authors.affiliation: Laboratory of Cell Signaling, Internal Medicine Department, University of Campinas (UNICAMP), Medical School, Sao Paulo, Brazil.
authors.forename: Lício Augusto
authors.initials: LA
authors.lastname: Velloso
authors.affiliation: Department of Pathology, University of Campinas (UNICAMP), Medical School, Sao Paulo, Brazil.
authors.forename: Luciana Rodrigues
authors.initials: LR
authors.lastname: Meirelles
authors.affiliation: Coloproctology Unit, Surgery Department, University of Campinas (UNICAMP), Medical School, Sao Paulo, Brazil; Laboratory of Cell Signaling, Internal Medicine Department, University of Campinas (UNICAMP), Medical School, Sao Paulo, Brazil.
authors.forename: Raquel Franco
authors.initials: RF
authors.lastname: Leal
mesh_terms: D000273:Adipose Tissue / Q000473:pathology*; D017209:Apoptosis; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D003424:Crohn Disease / Q000473:pathology*; D006801:Humans; D020287:In Situ Nick-End Labeling; D007422:Intestines / Q000473:pathology*; D008643:Mesentery / Q000473:pathology*