Tissue cytokine and chemokine expression in inflammatory bowel disease

Objective and design: This study aimed to determine if mucosal expression o f the chemokines IL-8, RANTES and MCP-1 and the pro-inflammatory cytokines TNF alpha and IL-6 are elevated in patients with inflammatory bowel disease . Materials and subjects: Intestinal mucosa samples were obtained at the time of surgical resection, n = 16 from each of the following groups: normal/co ntrol, CD and UC. Methods: An homogenate was prepared of each tissue sample and cytokines mea sured by ELISA. Results: IL-8 was significantly increased in both disease groups compared t o controls Similarly, RANTES levels were also significantly increased. MCP- 1 levels were increased in both disease groups, this increase was statistic ally significant in the UC group only. TNF alpha and IL-6 were significantl y increased in the CD group only. Conclusions: Chemokines, together with key cytokines that promote their rel ease are elevated in mucosal tissues from patients with IBD. It is likely t hat these chemokines play an important role in the perpetuation of tissue d estructive inflammatory processes.