PRODUCTION OF INTERLEUKIN-1B AND TUMOR NECROSIS FACTOR-A BY PERIPHERAL-BLOOD HUMAN MONONUCLEAR-CELLS IN ACTIVE AND INACTIVE STAGES OF ULCERATIVE-COLITIS

The production of interleukin-1b (IL-1b) and Tumor necrosis factor a ( TNF-a) by peripheral blood human mononuclear cells has been measured b y an enzyme linked immunosorbent assay in 49 patients with ulcerative colitis (UC), 16 patients with first onset of the disease, 15 with unt reated active disease, 18 patients with active UC under treatment and 14 healthy control subjects. IL-1b and TNF-a values were significantly higher (p < 0.001) in all groups of patients with active disease comp aring to values after the achievement of remission or healthy controls . This increase was more profound in patients with pancolitis, in all groups with UC in active stage, when a comparison was made with rectos igmoiditis patients (p < 0.05). These results point towards a correlat ion between IL-1b and TNF-a production in UC patients and activity and extent of the disease.