Nemeth Zoltan H, Bogdanovski Dorian A, Barratt-Stopper Patricia, Paglinco Samantha R, Antonioli Luca, Rolandelli Rolando H
Department of Surgery, Morristown Medical Center.
Department of Clinical and Experimental Medicine, University of Pisa.
Cureus. 2017 Apr 19;9(4):e1177. doi: 10.7759/cureus.1177.
Networks of cytokines have been implicated in both forms of inflammatory bowel disease (IBD): Crohn's disease (CD) and ulcerative colitis (UC). While CD has associated with T-helper type 1 (Th1) immune responses, UC shows Th2 patterns. Recent studies reported that the inflamed intestinal regions in both CD and UC are significantly infiltrated with a newly described set of T helper, the Th17 cells. These cells have unique cytokine responses. These findings prompted us to further explore the cytokine profiles of CD and UC with a special focus on the Th2 and Th17 related mediators.
Cytokine transcripts were compared using real-time polymerase chain reaction (PCR) in both inflamed and non-inflamed mucosal specimens from patients with active CD (n=35) or UC (n=20) and without CD or UC (Control, n=54).
In both CD and UC, interleukin (IL)-12 (p40), IL-18, IL-21 and IL-27 transcript levels were higher than in Control. The highest levels of cytokines were found in the diseased areas of CD and UC with only one exception; IL-12 (p40) in CD was more up-regulated in the non-diseased areas compared to diseased CD and Control specimens. CD samples but not UC specimens showed significant IL-17, IL-23, and IL-32 mRNA expression indicating a trend toward Th17 responses. In UC, however, IL-5, IL-13, IL-15 and IL-33 mRNA levels were significantly increased when compared to both CD and Control.
The unique patterns of cytokine networks can help us to better understand the differential expression of their characteristic pathophysiology. In addition, the pharmacological regulation of these small molecules may hold promise to more effective and personalized therapies.
细胞因子网络与两种炎症性肠病（IBD）有关：克罗恩病（CD）和溃疡性结肠炎（UC）。虽然CD与1型辅助性T细胞（Th1）免疫反应相关，但UC表现出Th2模式。最近的研究报告称，CD和UC的炎症肠道区域均有一组新描述的辅助性T细胞（即Th17细胞）显著浸润。这些细胞具有独特的细胞因子反应。这些发现促使我们进一步探索CD和UC的细胞因子谱，特别关注与Th2和Th17相关的介质。
使用实时聚合酶链反应（PCR）比较了活动性CD患者（n = 35）或UC患者（n = 20）以及无CD或UC患者（对照组，n = 54）的炎症和非炎症黏膜标本中的细胞因子转录本。
在CD和UC中，白细胞介素（IL）-12（p40）、IL-18、IL-21和IL-27的转录水平均高于对照组。细胞因子水平最高的是在CD和UC的病变区域，只有一个例外；与病变的CD和对照标本相比，CD中非病变区域的IL-12（p40）上调更为明显。CD样本而非UC标本显示出显著的IL-17、IL-23和IL-32 mRNA表达，表明有Th17反应的趋势。然而，与CD和对照组相比，UC中的IL-5、IL-13、IL-15和IL-33 mRNA水平显著升高。
细胞因子网络的独特模式有助于我们更好地理解其特征性病理生理学的差异表达。此外，对这些小分子的药理调节可能为更有效和个性化的治疗带来希望。
