Tissue cytokine and chemokine expression in inflammatory bowel disease

Objective and design: This study aimed to determine if mucosal expression of 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/control, CD and UC. Methods: An homogenate was prepared of each tissue sample and cytokines measured by ELISA. Results: IL-8 was significantly increased in both disease groups compared to controls Similarly, RANTES levels were also significantly increased. MCP-1 levels were increased in both disease groups, this increase was statistically significant in the UC group only. TNF alpha and IL-6 were significantly increased in the CD group only. Conclusions: Chemokines, together with key cytokines that promote their release are elevated in mucosal tissues from patients with IBD. It is likely that these chemokines play an important role in the perpetuation of tissue destructive inflammatory processes.