Expression of E-selectin, sialyl Lewis X, and macrophage inflammatory protein-1α by colonic epithelial cells in ulcerative colitis

B Vainer, OH Nielsen, T Horn - Digestive diseases and sciences, 1998 - Springer
B Vainer, OH Nielsen, T Horn
Digestive diseases and sciences, 1998Springer
The pathogenic significance of cell adhesionmolecules (CAMs) in ulcerative colitis (UC) is
largelyunknown. Colonic expression of E-selectin, sialyl LewisX (sLe x), and macrophage
inflammatoryprotein-1x (MIP-1α) as well as serum concentrationsof E-selectin and MIP-1α in
UC were studied. Thirty patients with UC, 10 patients with irritablebowel syndrome, and 10
healthy subjects were included. Colonic biopsies were stained immunohistochemically, and
blood concentrations were measured with an ELISAtechnique. Soluble E-selectin did not …
Abstract
The pathogenic significance of cell adhesionmolecules (CAMs) in ulcerative colitis (UC) is largelyunknown. Colonic expression of E-selectin, sialyl LewisX (sLex), and macrophage inflammatoryprotein-1x (MIP-1α) as well as serum concentrationsof E-selectin and MIP-1α in UC were studied.Thirty patients with UC, 10 patients with irritablebowel syndrome, and 10 healthy subjects were included.Colonic biopsies were stained immunohistochemically,and blood concentrations were measured with an ELISAtechnique. Soluble E-selectin did not correlate withdiagnosis or disease activity. MIP-1α was below the detection limit. Epithelial cells expressedall three molecules, both on surface membranes andintracellularly. sLex staining was weaker (P= 0.0002) and MIP-1α staining stronger (P = 0.014)in UC patients than in controls. Leukocyte MIP-αstaining correlated with diagnosis (P = 0.021),sLex staining (P = 0.023), and colonoscopy (P= 0.018). It is shown that E-selectin, sLex,and MIP-1α are synthesized and expressed by epithelial cells, indicatingthat CAMs are not only involved in leukocyteextravasation and migration, but also in the interactionbetween leukocytes and colonic epithelium. Thisknowledge might contribute to the development of improvedtreatments in UC.
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