Department of Surgery, Casa Sollievo della Sofferenza Hospital, IRCCS, San Giovanni Rotondo, Italy.
J Crohns Colitis. 2012 Jun;6(5):563-70. doi: 10.1016/j.crohns.2011.11.004. Epub 2011 Dec 13.
The neuropeptide Substance P, plays a key role in modulating neuroimmune interactions in patients with inflammatory bowel diseases. We analyzed Substance P serum levels in patients with ulcerative colitis and Crohn's disease, to detail the involvement of the neuropeptide in the pathophysiology of these disorders.
Serum samples were collected from 61 patients with ulcerative colitis (24 with active and 37 with inactive disease), 66 patients with Crohn's disease (29 with active and 37 with inactive disease) and 45 healthy subjects, enrolled into the study. Neuropetide serum levels were measured by means of an ELISA/EIA. Associations with disease activity and patients clinical features were also taken into account.
Compared to controls, Substance P serum levels were significantly increased in both patients with ulcerative colitis and Crohn's disease, (p<0.001). In patients with ulcerative colitis, levels paralleled disease activity (p=0.014), and the amount of the neuropeptide was considerably decreased during clinical and endoscopic remission of the disease, (p=0.025). Conversely, median Substance P levels did not differ between patients with active and inactive Crohn's disease. However, levels of the neuropeptide were more often elevated in patients with inactive and stricturing/fistulizing Crohn's disease, (p=0.002).
Data underline that Substance P might exerts important immunomodulatory functions in inflammatory bowel disease. This study suggests a potential role for Substance P serum levels in monitoring intestinal inflammation in patients with inflammatory bowel disease.
神经肽 P 物质在调节炎症性肠病患者的神经免疫相互作用中起着关键作用。我们分析了溃疡性结肠炎和克罗恩病患者的 P 物质血清水平，以详细阐明该神经肽在这些疾病病理生理学中的作用。
从溃疡性结肠炎患者（活动期 24 例，缓解期 37 例）、克罗恩病患者（活动期 29 例，缓解期 37 例）和 45 名健康对照者中采集血清样本。采用 ELISA/EIA 法测定神经肽血清水平，并考虑疾病活动度和患者临床特征的相关性。
与对照组相比，溃疡性结肠炎和克罗恩病患者的 P 物质血清水平均显著升高（p<0.001）。在溃疡性结肠炎患者中，水平与疾病活动度相关（p=0.014），并且在疾病的临床和内镜缓解期间，神经肽的量明显减少（p=0.025）。相反，活动期和缓解期克罗恩病患者的 P 物质水平中位数无差异。然而，在缓解期和狭窄/瘘管形成克罗恩病患者中，神经肽水平升高更为常见（p=0.002）。
数据表明 P 物质可能在炎症性肠病中发挥重要的免疫调节功能。本研究提示 P 物质血清水平在监测炎症性肠病患者肠道炎症方面具有潜在作用。
