title: Crohn's Colitis: Development of a multiplex gene expression assay comparing mRNA levels of susceptibility genes.
abstract: Crohn's disease (CD) is a multifactorial immunologically mediated disease. In this study we explored, for the first time, the efficacy of the Multiplex Gene Assay technology for detecting mRNA expression profile of 24 selected CD related genes in endoscopic biopsies and surgical specimens from CD patients with colonic localization of the disease. The polymorphisms of genes most frequently associated with CD were also analysed in DNA samples from the same patients. The analysis of endoscopic samples showed increased expression of 7 genes in inflamed mucosa compared to non-inflamed mucosa and suggests the activation of the autophagy process and of a Th17 adaptive response. The analysis of surgical specimens showed increased expression of 16 genes in inflamed tissue compared to non-inflamed internal controls and revealed the activation of immune-adaptive Th17 response in association with a Th1 response. Furthermore, an increased expression of genes involved in ionic transport and signal transduction was found in inflamed mucosa compared to non-inflamed internal controls. This study confirms the activation of Th17 and Th1 adaptive-immune response also in colonic CD. It should be stressed that these responses have been disclosed in biopsy tissue, while only Th17 differentiation is revealed in endoscopic tissue. Interestingly, the polymorphisms analysis revealed that a homozygous genotype is associated to a more complicated clinical course.
authors.affiliation: Department of Experimental and Clinical Medicine, University of Florence, Viale Pieraccini 6, 50139 Florence, Italy. Electronic address: edda.russo@unifi.it.
authors.forename: Edda
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Russo
authors.affiliation: Department of Experimental and Clinical Medicine, University of Florence, Viale Pieraccini 6, 50139 Florence, Italy.
authors.forename: Letizia
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Lombardelli
authors.affiliation: Department of Surgery and Translational Medicine (DCMT), Section of Surgery, University of Florence, Florence, Italy.
authors.forename: Francesco
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Giudici
authors.affiliation: Department of Surgery and Translational Medicine (DCMT), Section of Surgery, University of Florence, Florence, Italy.
authors.forename: Tiziana
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Cavalli
authors.affiliation: Department of Surgery and Translational Medicine (DCMT), Section of Surgery, University of Florence, Florence, Italy.
authors.forename: Ferdinando
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Ficari
authors.affiliation: Department of Surgery and Translational Medicine (DCMT), Section of Surgery, University of Florence, Florence, Italy.
authors.forename: Marilena
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Fazi
authors.affiliation: Department of Surgery and Translational Medicine (DCMT), Section of Surgery, University of Florence, Florence, Italy; Gastroenterology Unit SOD2, AOUC Careggi, Florence, Italy.
authors.forename: Stefano
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Scaringi
authors.affiliation: Department of Internal Medicine, University of Rome Tor Vergata, Rome, Italy.
authors.forename: Livia
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Biancone
authors.affiliation: Department of Experimental and Clinical Medicine, University of Florence, Viale Pieraccini 6, 50139 Florence, Italy.
authors.forename: Federica
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Logiodice
authors.affiliation: Department of Experimental and Clinical Biomedical Sciences (SBSC) "Mario Serio", University of Florence, Florence, Italy.
authors.forename: Mariateresa
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Nesi
authors.affiliation: Division of Gastroenterology, IRCCS "Casa Sollievo della Sofferenza" Hospital, San Giovanni Rotondo, Italy.
authors.forename: Anna
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Latiano
authors.affiliation: Gastroenterology Unit SOD2, AOUC Careggi, Florence, Italy.
authors.forename: Vito
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Annese
authors.affiliation: Department of Experimental and Clinical Medicine, University of Florence, Viale Pieraccini 6, 50139 Florence, Italy.
authors.forename: Maria Gabriella
authors.initials: MG
authors.lastname: Torcia
authors.affiliation: Department of Surgery and Translational Medicine (DCMT), Section of Surgery, University of Florence, Florence, Italy.
authors.forename: Paolo
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Bechi
authors.affiliation: Department of Surgery and Translational Medicine (DCMT), Section of Surgery, University of Florence, Florence, Italy.
authors.forename: Francesco
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Tonelli
authors.affiliation: Department of Experimental and Clinical Medicine, University of Florence, Viale Pieraccini 6, 50139 Florence, Italy.
authors.forename: Marie-Pierre
authors.initials: MP
authors.lastname: Piccinni
authors.affiliation: Department of Experimental and Clinical Biomedical Sciences (SBSC) "Mario Serio", University of Florence, Florence, Italy.
authors.forename: Cecilia
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Malentacchi
mesh_terms: D056704:Adaptive Immunity; D003092:Colitis / Q000150:complications* / Q000209:etiology; D003424:Crohn Disease / Q000150:complications / Q000235:genetics*; D015870:Gene Expression; D020022:Genetic Predisposition to Disease; D006801:Humans; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000096:biosynthesis*
chemical_list: D012333:RNA, Messenger