Increased expression of interleukin 17 in inflammatory bowel disease

• Published in: Gut 2003-01, Vol.52 (1), p.65-70
• Main Authors: Fujino, S, Andoh, A, Bamba, S, Ogawa, A, Hata, K, Araki, Y, Bamba, T, Fujiyama, Y
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: acid guanidium thiocyanate-phenol-chloroform; Acute Disease; AGPC; Biological and medical sciences; Biopsy; Case-Control Studies; CD Crohn’s disease; Colitis - immunology; Colitis - microbiology; Colitis, Ischemic - immunology; Colitis, Ulcerative - immunology; Crohn Disease - immunology; Cytokines; Digestive system; ELISA; enzyme linked immunosorbent assay; Enzymes; FITC; fluorescein isothiocyanate; Gastroenterology. Liver. Pancreas. Abdomen; Health aspects; Humans; IBD; Immunohistochemistry - methods; Inflammation; Inflammatory Bowel Disease; Inflammatory bowel diseases; Inflammatory Bowel Diseases - immunology; interleukin; interleukin 17; Interleukin-17 - analysis; Interleukin-17 - blood; Interleukin-17 - genetics; Interleukins; Intestinal Mucosa - immunology; Investigative techniques, diagnostic techniques (general aspects); Lymphocytes; Macrophages - immunology; Medical sciences; Monocytes - immunology; monocytes/macrophages; Other diseases. Semiology; Pathology. Cytology. Biochemistry. Spectrometry. Miscellaneous investigative techniques; PBS; phosphate buffered saline; Physiological aspects; Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction; reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction; RNA, Messenger - analysis; RT-PCR; Stomach. Duodenum. Small intestine. Colon. Rectum. Anus; Studies; T cell; T-Lymphocytes - immunology; TNF; Tumor necrosis factor-TNF; tumour necrosis factor; ulcerative colitis
• ISSN: 0017-5749; 1468-3288; 1458-3288
• DOI: 10.1136/gut.52.1.65

Background and aim: Interleukin (IL) 17 is a cytokine which exerts strong proinflammatory activities. In this study we evaluated changes in IL-17 expression in the inflamed mucosa and in the serum of patients with inflammatory bowel disease (IBD). Methods: Tissue samples were obtained endoscopically or surgically from patients with ulcerative colitis (UC) (n=20), Crohn’s disease (CD) (n=20), infectious colitis (n=5), ischaemic colitis (n=8), and normal colorectal tissues (n=15). IL-17 expression was evaluated by a standard immunohistochemical procedure. Serum IL-17 levels were determined by ELISA. IL-17 mRNA expression was analysed by reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction. Results: IL-17 expression was not detected in samples from normal colonic mucosa, infectious colitis, or ischaemic colitis. In the inflamed mucosa of active UC and CD patients, IL-17 expression was clearly detectable in CD3+ T cells or CD68+ monocytes/macrophages. The average number of IL-17+ cells was significantly increased in active UC and CD patients compared with inactive patients. IL-17 mRNA expression was not detected in normal mucosa but was detectable in the mucosa from active UC and CD patients. IL-17 was not detected in the sera from normal individuals, infectious colitis, or ischaemic colitis patients but IL-17 levels were significantly elevated in IBD patients. Conclusions: IL-17 expression in the mucosa and serum was increased in IBD patients. It is likely that IL-17 expression in IBD may be associated with altered immune and inflammatory responses in the intestinal mucosa.