Tumor necrosis factor-alpha in ileal mast cells in patients with Crohn's disease

BACKGROUND: Reports that both intestinal and extraintestinal Crohn's disease (CD) had healed successfully after treatment with anti-tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-alpha) antibody have strengthened the hypothesis that it has a role in the treatment of CD. The macrophage is one source of TNF-alpha. Intestinal mast cells are also thought to have a role in CD, but it is not known if human ileal mast cells express TNF-alpha. AIM: To find out whether TNF-alpha is expressed by mast cells in the ileal wall in CD patients and controls. METHODS: TNF-alpha was sought immunohistochemically in full thickness specimens of ileal wall from patients with CD (histologically normal, n = 9; inflamed, n = 6) and controls (patients with colonic cancer, n = 8). Mast cells were identified by metachromasia and anti-mast cell tryptase immunoreactivity. RESULTS: In all layers of the ileal wall, and in every specimen investigated, mast cells were the main cell type that expressed TNF-alpha immunoreactivity out of the TNF-alpha-labelled cells. The number of TNF-alpha- labelled mast cells was greater in the muscularis propria in patients compared with controls, both in uninflamed (1.7-fold, p < 0.05) and in inflamed bowel (4.6-fold, p < 0.002); greater in the submucosa in inflamed compared with uninflamed CD (1.6-fold, p < 0. 01), and less in the lamina propria in inflamed compared with uninflamed CD (0.4-fold, p < 0.05). CONCLUSION: Mast cells are an important source of TNF-alpha in all layers of the ileal wall, and the increased density of TNF-alpha-positive mast cells in the submucosa and muscularis propria may contribute to the tissue changes and symptoms in CD.     

High frequency of helicobacter negative gastritis in patients with Crohn's disease.

The frequency of gastric Crohn''s disease has been considered low. This study was undertaken to determine the prevalence of chronic gastritis and Helicobacter pylori infection in patients with Crohn''s disease. Oesophagogastroduodenoscopy was performed on 62 consecutive patients suffering from ileocolonic Crohn''s disease. Biopsy specimens from the antrum and corpus were processed for both histological and bacteriological examinations. H pylori antibodies of IgG and IgA classes were measured in serum samples by enzyme immunoassay. Six patients (9.7%) were infected with H pylori, as shown by histology, and in five of them the infection was also verified by serology. Twenty one patients (32%) had chronic H pylori negative gastritis (negative by both histology and serology) and one of them also had atrophy in the antrum and corpus. Granulomas were found in four patients. The characteristic appearance of H pylori negative gastritis was focal and mostly mild inflammation resembling the inflammatory changes seen in the gut in Crohn''s disease. Patients with H pylori negative chronic gastritis had a significantly more active disease in their gut than those with normal gastric mucosa (p < 0.01). It is concluded that H pylori positive gastritis is rare, while H pylori negative gastritis is relatively common in patients with Crohn''s disease. H pylori negative ''Crohn''s gastritis'' seems to be associated with active Crohn''s disease.     

Chios mastic treatment of patients with active Crohn＇s disease

AIM： To evaluate the effectiveness of mastic administration on the clinical course and plasma inflammatory mediators of patients with active Crohn＇s disease （CD）. METHODS： This pilot study was conducted in patients with established mild to moderately active CD, attending the outpatient clinics of the hospital, and in healthy controls. Ten patients and 8 controls were recruited for a 4-wk treatment with mastic caps （6 caps/d, 0.37 g/cap）. All patients successfully completed the protocol. CD Activity Index （CDAI）, Nutritional Risk Index （NRI）, C-reactive protein （CRP）, interleukin-6 （IL-6）, tumor necrosis factor-alpha （TNF-α）, monocyte chemotactic protein-1 （MCP-1）, and total antioxidant potential （TAP） were evaluated in the plasma at baseline and at the end of the treatment period. Results were expressed as mean values ± SE and P 〈 0.05 was considered to indicate statistical significance. RESULTS： Patients exhibited significant reduction of CDAI （222.9 ± 18.7 vs 136.3 ± 12.3, P = 0.05） as compared to pretreament values. Plasma IL-6 was significantly decreased （21.2 ± 9.3 pg/mL vs 7.2 ± 2.8 pg/ mL, P = 0.027）, and so did CRP （40.3 ± 13.1 mg/mL vs 19.7 ± 5.5, P = 0.028）. TAP was significantly increased （0.15 ± 0.09 vs 0.57 ± 0.15 mmol/L uric acid, P = 0.036）. No patient or control exhibited any kind of side effects. CONCLUSION： The results suggest that mastic significantly decreased the activity index and the plasma levels of IL-6 and CRP in patients with mildly to moderately active CD. Further double-blind, placebo-controlled studies in a larger number of patients are required to clarify the role of this natural PrOduct in the treatment of patients with CD.     

Accumulation and pepsin solubility of collagens in the bowel of patients with Crohn's disease

The collagen content of resected strictured intestine, with and without fistulas, from patients with Crohn's disease has been compared with that in macroscopically normal intestine removed from the same patients and from others without inflammatory bowel disease. Collagen content per unit wet or dry weight of tissue was significantly increased in all grossly diseased tissue whether fistulated or not. Although there was a significant increase in collagen types I, III, and V in diseased tissue, the relative proportions of major collagen types extracted by limited pepsin digestion were similar for both Crohn's and non-Crohn's intestine (type I, 65 to 70 percent; type III, 25 to 30 percent; type IV, 2 to 3 percent; and type V, 2.5 to 3 percent). CNBr digestion of pepsin insoluble material showed a similar relative abundance of types I and III, indicating no major change in collagen type distribution between older (insoluble) and more newly synthesized collagen. There was no evidence of the presence of type I trimer collagen. Type VI collagen, although not quantitated, was observed in 70 percent of intestinal specimens. The proportion of total collagen solubilized by pepsin treatment was significantly greater in both grossly diseased and macroscopically normal Crohn's bowel compared with non-inflammatory bowel disease bowel. These findings suggest that there are disturbances of collagen metabolism in Crohn's intestine, which account for the stricturing process and which may predate gross pathologic changes.     

Unemployment and disability in patients with moderately to severely active Crohn's disease

GOALS: Unemployment and disability rates in Crohn's disease patients from the ACCENT I trial were assessed. Factors associated with employment and disability status were explored. BACKGROUND: Limited data regarding unemployment and disability status in patients with active Crohn's disease are available. STUDY: Baseline data were used to assess unemployment and disability rates. Logistic regression analysis examined factors that were associated with employment and disability status. Analysis of variance was used to compare quality of life. RESULTS: The baseline full-and part-time employment rates were 48% and 13%, respectively, with 39% of patients unemployed and 25% receiving disability compensation. Only 14% of 225 unemployed patients felt well enough to work if a job were available. Younger age, female gender, shorter disease duration, and prior bowel resection predicted a higher likelihood of unemployment. Younger age and female gender also predicted a higher likelihood of not being employed full-time. Prior bowel resection predicted a higher likelihood of receiving disability compensation. Quality of life (Inflammatory Bowel Disease Questionnaire, Short Form-36) scores were significantly higher in employed patients. CONCLUSIONS: Patients with moderately to severely active Crohn's disease had low employment and high disability rates. Given their economic importance, assessment of these outcomes should be integrated into future evaluations of therapy, including clinical trials.     

Different distribution of mast cells and macrophages in colonic mucosa of patients with collagenous colitis and inflammatory bowel disease

BACKGROUND/AIMS: Chronic inflammatory cells in colonic mucosa is a histopathologic feature in patients with collagenous colitis and inflammatory bowel disease. The aim of this study was to compare the distribution of mast cells and macrophages in the colonic mucosa of patients with collagenous colitis, Crohn's disease, and ulcerative colitis. METHODOLOGY: Patients with histologically confirmed collagenous colitis (n = 13), Crohn's disease (n = 20) or ulcerative colitis (n = 20) and normal control patients (n = 20) were included in this study. Biopsy specimens were obtained from the sigmoid colon of each patient, and immunostained using antibodies to tryptase (AA1) and CD68. The number of mast cells and macrophages located in upper and lower part of the lamina propria was determined. RESULTS: The number of mast cells in the upper part of lamina propria in patients with collagenous colitis (286 +/- 89/mm2, mean +/- SD), Crohn's disease (330 +/- 84/mm2) and ulcerative colitis (355 +/- 90/mm2), was higher than normal controls (201 +/- 44/mm2). The number of mast cells in the lower part of lamina propria in patients with Crohn's disease (345 +/- 87/mm2) and ulcerative colitis (363 +/- 86/mm2) was higher than collagenous colitis (266 +/- 63/mm2) and normal controls (309 +/- 60/mm2). The number of macrophages in the lower part of lamina propria in patients with Crohn's disease (330 +/- 63/mm2) and ulcerative colitis (301 +/- 60/mm2) was higher than in collagenous colitis (247 +/- 46/mm2) and normal controls (242 +/- 52/mm2), although there were no significant differences in the number of macrophages present in the upper part of the lamina propria among the four groups. CONCLUSIONS: Our data showed the presence of a different distribution of mast cells and macrophages in collagenous colitis and inflammatory bowel disease, and these suggest that because mucosal mast cells have been implicated in the development of Th2 response collagenous colitis is more of a Th2 type reaction rather than Th1.     

Increased numbers of macrophages in noninflamed gastroduodenal mucosa of patients with Crohn's disease

We investigated immunostained macrophages in the noninflamed mucosa of Crohn's disease patients. Biopsied specimens from endoscopically normal gastroduodenal mucosa of Crohn's disease, ulcerative colitis, and healthy control patients were studied. Sections were examined immunohistochemically using a monoclonal antibody specific for tissue macrophages (CD68). Immunostained mucosal macrophages in the second part of the duodenum, duodenal bulb, gastric antrum, and gastric body of the Crohn's disease group were more numerous than in the ulcerative colitis and control groups. The characteristic findings of Crohn's disease were aggregations, focal subepithelial dense accumulations, and infiltration throughout the mucosa of macrophages not accompanied by a lymphoid infiltrate. The number of macrophages in the gastroduodenal mucosa bore no relationship with the duration of symptoms, clinical activity, or affected site in the intestine. This suggests that the increased number of macrophages in noninflamed mucosa is a histological change characteristic for Crohn's disease that indicates a persistent latent abnormality involving the entire gastrointestinal tract.     

Focally enhanced gastritis in children with Crohn's disease and ulcerative colitis

OBJECTIVES: Focally enhanced gastritis (FEG) has been suggested as a specific diagnostic marker for patients with Crohn's disease. However, the utility of FEG for distinguishing Crohn's disease from ulcerative colitis is uncertain in adults, and the occurrence of this lesion in children has not been defined. The aim of this study was to evaluate the occurrence of FEG and other gastric histological abnormalities in children with inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) and to examine the utility of FEG in discriminating between ulcerative colitis and Crohn's disease. METHODS: This is a retrospective, case-controlled study of upper GI histopathological findings in children with IBD. Gastric histopathology was defined and graded according to the Updated Sydney System. RESULTS: FEG was present in 28 of 43 (65.1%) children with Crohn's disease and five of 24 (20.8%) children with ulcerative colitis, compared to three of 132 (2.3%) children without IBD or one of 39 (2.6%) children with Helicobacter pylori infection. There were no differences between those with and without FEG with regard to upper GI symptoms or previous anti-inflammatory drug ingestion (5-aminosalicylic acid compounds or steroids). All patients with H. pylori infection had chronic antral gastritis, but only one child with H. pylori had FEG. In addition, mild to moderate chronic gastritis was present in 15 of 43 (34.9%) children with Crohn's disease and in 12 of 24 (50%) patients with ulcerative colitis. CONCLUSIONS: The presence of FEG suggests underlying IBD. Although FEG is particularly common in children with Crohn's disease, it does not reliably differentiate between Crohn's disease and ulcerative colitis.     

Ileal and colonic fatty acid profiles in patients with active Crohn's disease.

In patients with active Crohn's disease and in a control group the fatty acid profiles in the whole lipid fraction of ileal and colonic mucosal biopsy specimens were determined by capillary gas chromatography. The biopsy specimens in Crohn's disease patients were taken from the inflamed terminal ileum as well as from the inflamed and macroscopically normal colon. Compared with controls the fatty acid distribution in the inflamed ileal mucosa was significantly characterised by (a) a decrease of 18:2 n6 and 18:3 n3 accompanied by a substantial increase of the highly polyunsaturated fatty acids 20:4 n6, 22:4 n6, and 22:6 n3 and (b) a higher unsaturation index of total fatty acids compared with controls. These changes were similar in the inflamed colon. Additionally, both the inflamed and the macroscopically normal colonic mucosa showed an increase of saturated (18:0) and a decrease of monounsaturated fatty acids (18:1 n9). Fatty acid profiles of ileum and colon showed side variations in controls, but not in the Crohn's disease group. These data suggest that in Crohn's disease changes in the distribution of polyunsaturated fatty acids seem to be the general feature of inflamed mucosa in small and large intestine. Results further suggest that colonic fatty acid metabolism in Crohn's disease is altered by degrees, showing changes in saturated and monounsaturated fatty acids as an additional, primary event.     

Sarcoid-like lymphocytosis of the lower respiratory tract in patients with active Crohn's disease

To re-evaluate the relationship between Crohn's disease and sarcoidosis, we compared the numbers and types of cells recovered by bronchoalveolar lavage from normal volunteers and patients with Crohn's disease, with other forms of inflammatory bowel disease, and with sarcoidosis. Patients with Crohn's disease, but not patients with other inflammatory bowel disorders, had an increase in the number of T lymphocytes on the surface of the lower respiratory tract similar to that seen in patients with sarcoidosis. As in sarcoidosis, this lymphocytosis results from an expansion of the T4+ T-lymphocyte subset, is characteristic of patients with active disease only, and is not associated with similar abnormalities in the peripheral blood. Thus, patients with apparently localized Crohn's disease have sarcoid-like lymphocytosis of the lower respiratory tract, a finding that emphasizes the systemic nature of Crohn's disease and the disorder's close relationship to sarcoidosis.     

A systematic review and meta-analysis of anti-adhesion molecule therapy in patients with active Crohn's disease

Abstract

Objective. Due to the crucial role played by adhesion molecules in the pathogenesis of Crohn’s disease (CD), targeting of these molecules has recently been proposed as a new direction for the development of anti-inflammatory strategies for CD. The aim of this study was to provide up-to-date evidence on the effectiveness and safety of anti-adhesion molecule therapy in treating active CD. Material and methods. We studied articles retrieved by PubMed, EMBASE, the Cochrane Library and the Science Citation Index for randomized controlled trials (RCTs) relevant to CD and anti-adhesion molecule therapy. Results. Seven RCTs comparing anti-adhesion molecule therapy with placebo were included in a meta-analysis to evaluate the efficacy and safety of anti-adhesion molecule strategies in active CD. On the basis of pooled results of the seven RCTs (n = 2228), we found a significant difference in clinical remission rates between groups [relative risk (RR) 1.31, 95% confidence interval (CI) 1.12–1.52, fixed-effect model]. Five RCTs (n = 2178) compared the response rates of anti-adhesion molecule therapy and placebo; in overall analysis, anti-adhesion molecule therapy was effective for active CD (RR 1.28, 95% CI 1.16–1.42, random-effect model). In five studies enrolling 1867 individuals, anti-adhesion molecule therapy did not increase adverse events (RR 1.03, 95% CI 0.98–1.08, fixed-effect model). Conclusions. Anti-adhesion molecule therapy, which could prevent leukocyte recruitment, was effective and safe for treating active CD. Because of the small number of studies included in this meta-analysis, the results should be interpreted with caution.     

硫唑嘌呤治疗活动性克罗恩病的开放性前瞻性研究

目的 通过长程前瞻性研究观察硫唑嘌呤(AZA)治疗我国活动性克罗恩病(CD)患者的疗效及安全性.方法 收集活动性CD且需使用糖皮质激素治疗者60例,开始予AZA及糖皮质激素治疗,激素撤离后以AZA维持治疗.随访监测第12、24、48、72和96周的临床疗效、内镜下黏膜愈合程度及不良反应.结果 随访第12、24、48、72和96周患者的完全缓解率分别为55.0%、66.7%、61.7%、53.3%和53.3%.25例患者治疗前及治疗48周时行结肠镜检查,8例达到黏膜愈合者随访至第96周时均维持完全缓解(8/8),17例未达黏膜愈合者至第96周时维持完全缓解仅9例(9/17,P=0.026).比较第48周完全缓解组与未完全缓解组的特征,多因素Logistic回归分析显示治疗后超敏C反应蛋白恢复至正常值为AZA有效维持缓解的独立影响因素(OR=10.1,95%CI:1.8～57.9,P=0.09).16例(26.7%)患者发生不良反应,其中10例因不良反应而停药;WBC减少为最常见不良反应(18.3%),发生于用药全程.结论 AZA与糖皮质激素合用可有效诱导活动性CD缓解,AZA可有效维持撤离激素后的长程缓解,AZA最常见的不良反应是WBC减少.部分病例可获得病变肠黏膜愈合,达到黏膜愈合者可维持长程临床缓解.

Abstract：

Objective To evaluate the efficacy and safety of azathioprine (AZA) in long term treatment of patients with active Crohn's disease (CD) in China. Methods Sixty patients with active CD,who needed to be treated with systemic steroids, were recruited. All patients initially received AZA combined with steroids therapy and AZA was maintained for treatment after withdrawal of steroids. Clinical efficacy, endoscopic healing of mucosa and adverse events were assessed at the end of the 12th, 24th, 48th, 72th and 96th weeks. Results The complete remission (CR) of the patients at the 12th, 24th, 48th, 72th and 96th weeks was 55.0%, 66. 7%, 61. 7%, 53. 3% and 53. 3%,respectively. Endoscopic examination was performed in 25 patients before treatment and at the end of the 48th week. Eight of them achieved mucosal healing that was kept to the end of 96th week (8/8).Whereas only 9 out of 17 patients without mucosal healing achieved CR at the end of 96th week (9/17,P=0. 026). The clinical features were compared between CR group and non-CR group at the end of 48th week. Logistic regression analysis showed that regaining of hs-CRP was the only independent factor for maintaining remission by AZA treatment ( P= 0. 009,OR 10.1,95 % CI 1.8 ～ 57.9). Sixteen patients (26.7 % ) had adverse events. Ten (16.7 % ) of them had to halt treatment because of serious adverse events. Leucopenia was the most common adverse event and could be occurred at any time during the treatment. Conclusion AZA combined with steroid therapy can effectively induce remission of active CD. Long term steroid-free remission is also effectively maintained by AZA treatment. The most common adverse event is leucopenia and some patients can get mucosal healing. Those who get mucosal healing may have longer duration of remission.     

Impaired lymphocyte reactivity against tumour cells in patients with Crohn's disease

Evidence is presented which indicates a possible reduction in recognition capacity for tumour cell antigens (EB₂ Burkitt lymphoma cell line) by lymphocytes from some patients with longstanding but inactive Crohn's disease. Three out of seven patients tested also showed diminished or absent lymphocytotoxicity when their cells were grown in mixed culture with chromium-labelled lymphoma cells and absent response has never been observed in a large series of controls similarly tested. In both test systems impaired reactivity appeared to be partly caused by a factor present in Crohn's disease serum.

Increased tumour incidence in Crohn's disease may in part be attributable to defective immune surveillance and the histology of Crohn's disease could reflect an imbalance between the proliferative and the cytotoxic responses of lymphocytes to various antigens in the bowel lumen in this disease.

     

Assessment of in vivo activated T cells in patients with Crohn's disease

Besides clinical indices, acute phase reactants and measurement of permeability of the gut immunological parameters have been proposed for assessment of clinical activity in Crohn's disease (CD). The latter refers in particular to the number of activated peripheral T cells (APT) which are found to be increased in patients with CD and ulcerative colitis. Further analysis of the subset of APT revealed that in CD their number is correlated to the histopathological ratings and the number of activated T cells of the affected mucosa. A major subset of APTs in CD and ulcerative colitis expresses receptors for IgA (Fc-alpha-R). This T cell subset seems to be characteristic of patients with inflammatory bowel diseases, exhibiting a specificity of 88% and a sensitivity of 92% for CD as compared with non-inflammatory bowel diseases. Methodological complexity turned out to be the major disadvantage of assessment of APT and their subsets.     

Splenic function and IgM-memory B cells in Crohn's disease patients treated with infliximab

BACKGROUND: Under experimental chronic inflammation, tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-alpha plays a role in damaging spleen marginal zone. This latter has a crucial function in mounting B cell-dependent immune responses against infections by encapsulated bacteria. In Crohn's disease (CD), a chronic inflammatory disorder where TNF-alpha is centrally involved, impaired splenic function may increase the susceptibility to bacterial infections. On this basis, we aimed to investigate the influence of anti-TNF therapy on splenic function in CD patients. METHODS: Peripheral blood samples were obtained from 15 CD patients before and after treatment with infliximab administered at weeks 0, 2, and 6 at a dose of 5 mg/kg. Counting of erythrocytes with membrane abnormalities (pitted red cells) was used as an indicator of splenic function. Multicolor flow cytometry was performed to analyze circulating B cells. RESULTS: A substantial clinical improvement in 10 of the 15 CD patients was associated with a significant reduction of pitted red cells (from median 6.0% to 3.6%; P < 0.01) after 10 weeks of treatment. In responder patients the improvement of splenic function was accompanied by a parallel increase of circulating IgM-memory B cells (from median 6.9% to 13.3%; P < 0.005). Splenic function was not ameliorated in nonresponder patients. CONCLUSIONS: Splenic function improved in CD patients who responded to infliximab and was accompanied by a concomitant restoration of the IgM-memory B cell pool responsible for the protection against encapsulated bacteria. Restoration of splenic function after infliximab treatment is intriguing and requires further investigation.