The expression of IL-12 p40 and its homologue, Epstein-Barr virus-induced gene 3, in inflammatory bowel disease
F Omata, M Birkenbach, S Matsuzaki… - Inflammatory bowel …, 2001 - academic.oup.com
F Omata, M Birkenbach, S Matsuzaki, AD Christ, RS Blumberg
Inflammatory bowel diseases, 2001•academic.oup.comBackground It has recently been suggested that Crohn's Disease (CD) is associated with an
exaggerated T helper 1 cytokine response as manifest by increased production of
interleukin-12 (IL-12) and interferon-γ (IFN-γ). Epstein-Barr virus-induced gene 3 (EBI3)
encodes a 34-kDa glycoprotein that is 27% identical to the p40 unit of IL-12 and has recently
been reported to be up-regulated in ulcerative colitis (UC). Aim To determine whether
mucosal expression of IL-12 p40 or EBI3 correlates with inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) …
exaggerated T helper 1 cytokine response as manifest by increased production of
interleukin-12 (IL-12) and interferon-γ (IFN-γ). Epstein-Barr virus-induced gene 3 (EBI3)
encodes a 34-kDa glycoprotein that is 27% identical to the p40 unit of IL-12 and has recently
been reported to be up-regulated in ulcerative colitis (UC). Aim To determine whether
mucosal expression of IL-12 p40 or EBI3 correlates with inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) …
Background
It has recently been suggested that Crohn's Disease (CD) is associated with an exaggerated T helper 1 cytokine response as manifest by increased production of interleukin-12 (IL-12) and interferon-γ (IFN-γ). Epstein-Barr virus-induced gene 3 (EBI3) encodes a 34-kDa glycoprotein that is 27% identical to the p40 unit of IL-12 and has recently been reported to be up-regulated in ulcerative colitis (UC).
Aim
To determine whether mucosal expression of IL-12 p40 or EBI3 correlates with inflammatory bowel disease (IBD).
Patients/Methods
mRNA expression in colonic mucosa from patients with UC, Crohn's disease (CD) and non-IBD controls was measured by reverse-transcribed real-time polymerase chain reaction (PCR).
Results
EBI3 was significantly increased in both involved and uninvolved colonic mucosa in patients with UC. Although IL-12 p40 was increased in some patients with CD relative to non-IBD controls, the increase was not statistically significant. However, 5-aminosalicylic acid (5-ASA) use was significantly correlated with reduced IL-12 p40 levels in the patients with CD, but not in UC cases. A similar reduction was not seen in 5-ASA-treated UC patients.
Conclusion
IL-12 p40 expression in CD is heterogeneous. In contrast, expression of the IL-12 p40 homologue, EBI3, is up-regulated in nearly all UC cases and in a subset of CD.
Oxford University Press