INCREASED INTERLEUKIN-8 PRODUCTION IN ULC ERATIVE-COLITIS AND CROHNS-DISEASE

Objectives. - The aim of the study was to assess in vitro the producti on on interleukin 8 in Crohn's disease and ulcerative colitis. Patient s and methods. - Interleukin 8 concentrations (measured by ELISA) were evaluated in the culture supernatants of : a) peripheral blood mononu clear cells from 13 patients with Crohn's disease, 7 patients with ulc erative colitis and 7 controls, b) organ cultures of inflamed (22 Croh n's disease, 15 ulcerative colitis) and uninflamed (21 Crohn's disease , 9 ulcerative colitis, 15 controls) intestinal mucosal biopsies. Resu lts. - In patients with Crohn's disease and ulcerative colitis, the pr oduction of interleukin 8 by peripheral blood mononuclear cells and in flamed mucosa was higher than in controls (P < 0.01) without statistic al difference between Crohn's disease and ulcerative colitis. Interleu kin 8 production by normal mucosa was not different between the 3 grou ps. Interleukin 8 concentrations in the supernatants of organ culture were positively correlated to an endoscopical and a histological infla mmatory index as well as to tumor necrosis factor, interleukin 1 and 6 concentrations. Conclusion. - These results support the notion that i nterleukin 8 plays an important role in the pathogenesis of inflammato ry bowel disease.