Expression of 5-lipoxygenase mRNA is unchanged in the colon of patients with active inflammatory bowel disease

TY - JOUR

T1 - Expression of 5-lipoxygenase mRNA is unchanged in the colon of patients with active inflammatory bowel disease

AU - Hendel, J.

AU - Ahnfelt-Rønne, I.

AU - Nielsen, O. H.

PY - 2002/1/1

Y1 - 2002/1/1

N2 - Background: In inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) the disease activity correlates with colonic concentrations of leukotrienes (LTs). The enzyme 5-lipoxygenase (5-LO) is responsible for the enzymatic production of LTs. It has previously been demonstrated in experimental models of inflammation, that 5-LO is activated through intracellular translocation of the pre-formed enzyme, and increased constitutive activation of 5-LO has been demonstrated in idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis. The objective of the present study was to investigate whether de novo synthesis of 5-LO is increased in patients with quiescent IBD, or is induced during acute exacerbations of IBD. Methods: Sixty-one individuals were included in the study. Twenty-eight had ulcerative colitis (UC), 21 had Crohn's disease (CD), and 12 were healthy controls. A standard rigid rectoscopy was performed in all individuals. The degree of inflammation was assessed using a semi-quantitative scale. A mucosal biopsy was taken from the most inflamed area as judged macroscopically, mRNA for 5-LO was detected using a RT-PCR technique, and the assay applied was evaluated by control experiments. Results: The expression of mRNA for 5-LO in colonic biopsies was similar in IBD patients with quiescent disease and healthy controls. When grouped according to endoscopically assessed disease activity the fraction of patients demonstrating 5-LO mRNA in colonic biopsies showed no significant change (p > 0,6; X2-test for trend). Conclusions: This study demonstrates no significant relationship between endoscopically assessed disease activity and relative presence of mRNA for 5-LO in colonic biopsies. Thus, there is no evidence of increased expression of 5-LO mRNA in either quiescent or active stages of IBD.

AB - Background: In inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) the disease activity correlates with colonic concentrations of leukotrienes (LTs). The enzyme 5-lipoxygenase (5-LO) is responsible for the enzymatic production of LTs. It has previously been demonstrated in experimental models of inflammation, that 5-LO is activated through intracellular translocation of the pre-formed enzyme, and increased constitutive activation of 5-LO has been demonstrated in idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis. The objective of the present study was to investigate whether de novo synthesis of 5-LO is increased in patients with quiescent IBD, or is induced during acute exacerbations of IBD. Methods: Sixty-one individuals were included in the study. Twenty-eight had ulcerative colitis (UC), 21 had Crohn's disease (CD), and 12 were healthy controls. A standard rigid rectoscopy was performed in all individuals. The degree of inflammation was assessed using a semi-quantitative scale. A mucosal biopsy was taken from the most inflamed area as judged macroscopically, mRNA for 5-LO was detected using a RT-PCR technique, and the assay applied was evaluated by control experiments. Results: The expression of mRNA for 5-LO in colonic biopsies was similar in IBD patients with quiescent disease and healthy controls. When grouped according to endoscopically assessed disease activity the fraction of patients demonstrating 5-LO mRNA in colonic biopsies showed no significant change (p > 0,6; X2-test for trend). Conclusions: This study demonstrates no significant relationship between endoscopically assessed disease activity and relative presence of mRNA for 5-LO in colonic biopsies. Thus, there is no evidence of increased expression of 5-LO mRNA in either quiescent or active stages of IBD.

KW - 5-lipoxygenase

KW - Arachidonic acid

KW - Colonic specimens

KW - Crohn's disease

KW - Ulcerative colitis

UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=0036678001&partnerID=8YFLogxK

U2 - 10.1007/PL00000324

DO - 10.1007/PL00000324

M3 - Journal article

C2 - 12234060

AN - SCOPUS:0036678001

SN - 1023-3830

VL - 51

SP - 423

EP - 426

JO - Inflammation Research

JF - Inflammation Research

IS - 8

ER -