Y. Raab et al., NEUTROPHIL MUCOSAL INVOLVEMENT IS ACCOMPANIED BY ENHANCED LOCAL PRODUCTION OF INTERLEUKIN-8 IN ULCERATIVE-COLITIS, Gut, 34(9), 1993, pp. 1203-1206
The concentration of myeloperoxidase, a neutrophil granule constituent
, was measured in the perfusion fluid from sigmoid and rectal segments
in patients with ulcerative colitis. The concentrations of myeloperox
idase were increased severalfold in the patients with ulcerative colit
is compared with healthy controls pointing to an enhanced neutrophil a
ctivity. The release of myeloperoxidase correlated to an enhanced loca
l release of the neutrophil activating peptide interleukin-8 (IL-8). I
ncreased values of tumour necrosis factor (TNF-alpha) were also found
during intestinal perfusion of the patients and correlated with those
of IL-8. The results obtained are compatible with the hypothesis that
local mucosal recruitment/activation of neutrophils in ulcerative coli
tis is mediated by an enhanced IL-8 synthesis. TNF-alpha may be one re
levant factor as a stimulus to IL-8 synthesis.