NEUTROPHIL MUCOSAL INVOLVEMENT IS ACCOMPANIED BY ENHANCED LOCAL PRODUCTION OF INTERLEUKIN-8 IN ULCERATIVE-COLITIS

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.