Abstract
The pathogenetic role of activated alpha beta and gamma delta T cells in inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) is not well defined. To elucidate this, interleukin-2 receptor (IL-2R) alpha and IL-2R beta single chain expression and coexpression by peripheral blood TCR alpha beta + cells and TCR gamma delta + cells was studied in 21 patients with ulcerative colitis (UC), 25 with Crohn's disease (CD), and 15 controls. The percentages of IL-2R alpha + beta-, IL-2R alpha-beta +, and IL-2R alpha + beta + TCR alpha beta + cells were increased in IBD patients with moderate and severe disease activity, as compared to controls (P < 0.01). In contrast, the percentages of IL-2R alpha-beta + and IL-2R alpha + beta + TCR gamma delta + cells were increased in patients with inactive UC (P < 0.01), but not in CD. The results suggest that activated alpha beta T cells are involved in the development of IBD. The differences in gamma delta T cell IL-2R expression between inactive UC and CD may correspond to a yet undefined etiopathogenetic difference between these two diseases.
| Original language | English |
|---|---|
| Journal | Digestive Diseases and Sciences |
| Volume | 40 |
| Issue number | 2 |
| Pages (from-to) | 291-5 |
| Number of pages | 5 |
| ISSN | 0163-2116 |
| Publication status | Published - Feb 1995 |
Keywords
- Adolescent
- Adult
- Colitis, Ulcerative/etiology
- Crohn Disease/etiology
- Female
- Humans
- Immunophenotyping
- Inflammatory Bowel Diseases/etiology
- Male
- Middle Aged
- Receptors, Antigen, T-Cell, alpha-beta/analysis
- Receptors, Antigen, T-Cell, gamma-delta/analysis
- Receptors, Interleukin-2/analysis
- T-Lymphocytes/immunology