Subclinical gut inflammation in spondyloarthropathy patients is associatedwith upregulation of the E-cadherin/catenin complex

Objective-Previously an upregulation of E-cadherin and its associated molec ules alpha-catenin, beta-catenin and plakoglobin has been demonstrated in c linically overt inflammatory bowel disease (IBD). The aim of this study was to investigate the expression of the E-cadherin/catenin complex in subclin ically inflamed bowel mucosa from spondyloarthropathy (SpA) patients. Methods-Ileal and colonic biopsy specimens from 19 SpA patients with subcli nical inflammatory gut lesions and from seven controls were stained with mo noclonal antibodies against E-cadherin, beta-catenin and plakoglobin and a polyclonal antibody against alpha-catenin. E-cadherin mRNA was detected usi ng a riboprobe. Inflammation was histologically classified into acute, chro nic active and chronic quiescent forms. Results-In acute and chronic active bowel inflammation of SpA patients, upr egulation of the E-cadherin/catenin glycoprotein complex could be observed. Chronic lesions in a quiescent state did not show such an upregulation. Fu rthermore, chronic inflammation was associated with an increase in E-cadher in mRNA. Conclusions-As some of the SpA patients with subclinical gut inflammation d evelop IBD, upregulation of the E-cadherin/catenin complex in inflamed bowe l mucosa from SpA patients may point to early cellular changes in the devel opment of IBD. However, at present it cannot be excluded that increased E-c adherin/catenin complex expression is a bystander phenomenon of active infl ammation.